Language/Turkish/Grammar/How-to-Use-be
Hi Turkish learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "be" in Turkish. We will look at the conjugation of the verb, its usage in sentences, and some examples.
Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Indefinite Articles in Turkish & How to use¨there to be¨ in Turkish.
Conjugation[edit | edit source]
The verb "be" is conjugated differently depending on the subject pronoun. Here is a table with the conjugation of the verb "be" for each subject pronoun:
| Subject | Turkish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | olam | o-lam | am |
| You (singular) | olasın | o-la-sun | are |
| He/She/It | ola | o-la | is |
| We | olayız | o-la-yiz | are |
| You (plural) | olasınız | o-la-sun-uz | are |
| They | olsunlar | ol-sun-lar | are |
Usage[edit | edit source]
The verb "be" is used to express existence, identity, or location. It is also used to form the present continuous tense.
For example:
- Ben buradayım. (I am here.)
- O bir öğretmendir. (He is a teacher.)
- Biz burada oturuyoruz. (We are sitting here.)
Examples[edit | edit source]
Here are some examples of sentences using the verb "be":
| Turkish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ben buradayım. | ben bur-a-da-yim | I am here. |
| O bir öğretmendir. | o bir o-gret-men-dir | He is a teacher. |
| Biz burada oturuyoruz. | biz bur-a-da o-tu-ru-yor-uz | We are sitting here. |
| Siz neredesiniz? | siz ne-re-de-sin-iz | Where are you? |
| Onlar ne yapıyorlar? | on-lar ne ya-pi-yor-lar | What are they doing? |
Here is a dialogue using the verb "be":
- Person 1: Merhaba! Neredesin? (Hello! Where are you?)
- Person 2: Merhaba! Ben evdeyim. (Hello! I am at home.)
- Person 1: Peki, ne yapıyorsun? (So, what are you doing?)
- Person 2: Kitap okuyorum. (I am reading a book.)
Cultural Information[edit | edit source]
In Turkish culture, it is polite to ask someone where they are when you greet them. This is a way of showing that you care about them and want to know what they are doing.
Quiz[edit | edit source]
Test your knowledge of the verb "be" with this quiz:
1. How do you say "I am here" in Turkish? A. Ben buradayım. B. Ben buradaydım. C. Ben buradaydı.
2. How do you say "Where are you?" in Turkish? A. Neredesin? B. Neredeydin? C. Neredeydik?
3. How do you say "They are doing" in Turkish? A. Onlar yapıyorlar. B. Onlar yaptılar. C. Onlar yapıyordu.
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Videos[edit | edit source]
Turkish Grammar: How to Say 'Before' in Turkish - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Comaratives and Superlatives
- How to use¨there to be¨ in Turkish
- Future Tense
- Conditional Mood
- Indefinite Articles in Turkish
- Ordinal Numbers in Turkish
- Quantity in Turkish
- Gender
- Present Tense
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Turkish Grammar Guide - To Be
- Turkish grammar - Wikipedia
- Turkish Grammar 101: Your Guide to Turkish Grammar Rules ...