Passive Voice in Turkish
What is the Passive Voice in Turkish?
Turkish Passive Voice: Step-by-Step Guide
| Step | What To Do |
|---|---|
| Step 1: Find the Verb Root | Remove the -mak/-mek ending from the infinitive. Example: okumak → oku ; koşmak → koş |
| Step 2: Check the Last Letter | Is the last letter a VOWEL (a, e, ı, i, o, ö, u, ü)? • YES → Go to Step 2A • NO (it’s a consonant) → Go to Step 2B |
| Step 2A: For Vowel-Ending Roots | Add the passive suffix -n directly to the root. Example: oku + n = okun- (to be read) |
| Step 2B: For Consonant-Ending Roots | You must add -l, but first you need to choose the correct vowel before it. Look at the last vowel in the root: • If the last vowel is a, ı → add -ıl • If the last vowel is e, i → add -il • If the last vowel is o, u → add -ul • If the last vowel is ö, ü → add -ül Example: koş (last vowel is o) → koş + ul = koşul- (to be run) |
| Step 3: Add Tense Endings | Add the normal Turkish tense suffixes to your new passive stem (okun-, koşul-).• Past: okun-du (was read), koşul-du (was run)• Present: okun-uyor (is being read), koşul-uyor (is being run)• Future: okun-acak (will be read), koşul-acak (will be run) |
| ⚠️ CRITICAL: Irregular Verbs | Some common verbs are exceptions and must be memorized. They often have a hidden consonant or change form. • almak (to take) → alındı (NOT alıldı)• bulmak (to find) → bulundu (NOT bullundu)• koymak (to put) → konuldu (root changes to kon-)Always check if your verb is one of these special cases first. |
Tablo 1: Düzenli Kurallara Uyan 35 Fiil (Regular Verbs)
| Active Verb (Infinitive) | Passive Voice (Past / Present / Future) & Explanation |
|---|---|
| 1. koşmak (to run) | koşuldu (was run) / koşuluyor (is being run) / koşulacak (will be run) Why -ul? Stem koş. Last vowel o is back/rounded → -ul |
| 2. yazmak (to write) | yazıldı (was written) / yazılıyor (is being written) / yazılacak (will be written) Why -ıl? Stem yaz. Last vowel a is back/unrounded → -ıl |
| 3. okumak (to read) | okundu (was read) / okunuyor (is being read) / okunacak (will be read) Why -n? Stem oku ends in a vowel (u) → -n |
| 4. görmek (to see) | görüldü (was seen) / görülüyor (is being seen) / görülecek (will be seen) Why -ül? Stem gör. Last vowel ö is front/rounded → -ül |
| 5. sevmek (to love) | sevildi (was loved) / seviliyor (is being loved) / seviliecek (will be loved) Why -il? Stem sev. Last vowel e is front/unrounded → -il |
| 6. açmak (to open) | açıldı (was opened) / açılıyor (is being opened) / açılacak (will be opened) Why -ıl? Stem aç. Last vowel a is back/unrounded → -ıl |
| 7. yıkamak (to wash) | yıkandı (was washed) / yıkanıyor (is being washed) / yıkanacak (will be washed) Why -n? Stem yıka ends in a vowel (a) → -n |
| 8. içmek (to drink) | içildi (was drunk) / içiliyor (is being drunk) / içilecek (will be drunk) Why -il? Stem iç. Last vowel i is front/unrounded → -il |
| 9. yapmak (to make/do) | yapıldı (was made) / yapılıyor (is being made) / yapılacak (will be made) Why -ıl? Stem yap. Last vowel a is back/unrounded → -ıl |
| 10. söylemek (to say/tell) | söylendi (was said) / söyleniyor (is being said) / söylenecek (will be said) Why -n? Stem söyle ends in a vowel (e) → -n |
| 11. kapatmak (to close) | kapatıldı (was closed) / kapatılıyor (is being closed) / kapatılacak (will be closed) Why -ıl? Stem kapat. Last vowel a is back/unrounded → -ıl |
| 12. çalışmak (to work/study) | çalışıldı (was worked on) / çalışılıyor (is being worked on) / çalışılacak (will be worked on) Why -ıl? Stem çalış. Last vowel ı is back/unrounded → -ıl |
| 13. dinlemek (to listen) | dinlendi (was listened to) / dinleniyor (is being listened to) / dinlenecek (will be listened to) Why -n? Stem dinle ends in a vowel (e) → -n |
| 14. satmak (to sell) | satıldı (was sold) / satılıyor (is being sold) / satılacak (will be sold) Why -ıl? Stem sat. Last vowel a is back/unrounded → -ıl |
| 15. öğrenmek (to learn) | öğrenildi (was learned) / öğreniliyor (is being learned) / öğrenilecek (will be learned) Why -il? Stem öğren. Last vowel e is front/unrounded → -il |
| 16. vermek (to give) | verildi (was given) / veriliyor (is being given) / verilecek (will be given) Why -il? Stem ver. Last vowel e is front/unrounded → -il |
| 17. kaybetmek (to lose) | kaybedildi (was lost) / kaybediliyor (is being lost) / kaybedilecek (will be lost) Why -il? Stem kaybet. Last vowel e is front/unrounded → -il |
| 18. çekmek (to pull/take photo) | çekildi (was pulled) / çekiliyor (is being pulled) / çekilecek (will be pulled) Why -il? Stem çek. Last vowel e is front/unrounded → -il |
| 19. kırmak (to break) | kırıldı (was broken) / kırılıyor (is being broken) / kırılacak (will be broken) Why -ıl? Stem kır. Last vowel ı is back/unrounded → -ıl |
| 20. giymek (to wear) | giyildi (was worn) / giyiliyor (is being worn) / giyilecek (will be worn) Why -il? Stem giy. Last vowel i is front/unrounded → -il |
| 21. kesmek (to cut) | kesildi (was cut) / kesiliyor (is being cut) / kesilecek (will be cut) Why -il? Stem kes. Last vowel e is front/unrounded → -il |
| 22. boyamak (to paint) | boyandı (was painted) / boyanıyor (is being painted) / boyanacak (will be painted) Why -n? Stem boya ends in a vowel (a) → -n |
| 23. taşımak (to carry) | taşındı (was carried) / taşınıyor (is being carried) / taşınacak (will be carried) Why -ın? Stem taş. Last vowel a is back/unrounded → -ın |
| 24. silmek (to erase/wipe) | silindi (was erased) / siliniyor (is being erased) / silinecek (will be erased) Why -in? Stem sil. Last vowel i is front/unrounded → -in |
| 25. göndermek (to send) | gönderildi (was sent) / gönderiliyor (is being sent) / gönderilecek (will be sent) Why -il? Stem gönder. Last vowel e is front/unrounded → -il |
| 26. kiralamak (to rent) | kiralandı (was rented) / kiralanıyor (is being rented) / kiralanacak (will be rented) Why -n? Stem kirala ends in a vowel (a) → -n |
| 27. kurmak (to set up/establish) | kuruldu (was set up) / kuruluyor (is being set up) / kurulacak (will be set up) Why -ul? Stem kur. Last vowel u is back/rounded → -ul |
| 28. anlamak (to understand) | anlaşıldı (was understood) / anlaşılıyor (is being understood) / anlaşılacak (will be understood) Why -ıl? Stem anlaş. Last vowel a is back/unrounded → -ıl |
| 29. beklemek (to wait) | beklendi (was waited for) / bekleniyor (is being waited for) / beklenecek (will be waited for) Why -n? Stem bekle ends in a vowel (e) → -n |
| 30. atmak (to throw) | atıldı (was thrown) / atılıyor (is being thrown) / atılacak (will be thrown) Why -ıl? Stem at. Last vowel a is back/unrounded → -ıl |
| 31. dikmek (to sew/plant) | dikildi (was sewn) / dikiliyor (is being sewn) / dikilecek (will be sewn) Why -il? Stem dik. Last vowel i is front/unrounded → -il |
| 32. sormak (to ask) | soruldu (was asked) / soruluyor (is being asked) / sorulacak (will be asked) Why -ul? Stem sor. Last vowel o is back/rounded → -ul |
| 33. vurmak (to hit) | vuruldu (was hit) / vuruluyor (is being hit) / vurulacak (will be hit) Why -ul? Stem vur. Last vowel u is back/rounded → -ul |
| 34. ezmek (to crush) | ezildi (was crushed) / eziliyor (is being crushed) / ezilecek (will be crushed) Why -il? Stem ez. Last vowel e is front/unrounded → -il |
| 35. asmak (to hang) | asıldı (was hung) / asılıyor (is being hung) / asılacak (will be hung) Why -ıl? Stem as. Last vowel a is back/unrounded → -ıl |
| Active Voice (Turkish) | Passive Voice & Grammar Explanation |
|---|---|
| 1. Kardeşim kitabı okudu. (My sibling read the book.) |
Passive: Kitap okundu. (The book was read.) Rule: Stem oku- ends in a vowel (u). So, we add -n → oku-n-du. |
| 2. Kardeşim bulaşıkları yıkadı. (My sibling washed the dishes.) |
Passive: Bulaşıklar yıkandı. (The dishes were washed.) Rule: Stem yıka- ends in a vowel (a). So, we add -n → yıka-n-dı. |
| 3. Teyzem pastayı yedi. (My aunt ate the cake.) |
Passive: Pasta yenildi. (The cake was eaten.) Rule: Ye- (to eat) is irregular. Its passive stem is yen-. Since this new stem ends in a consonant (n), we apply the consonant rule: the last vowel in yen is e (a front vowel), so we add -il → yen-il-di. |
| 4. Amcam duvarı boyadı. (My uncle painted the wall.) |
Passive: Duvar boyandı. (The wall was painted.) Rule: Stem boya- ends in a vowel (a). So, we add -n → boya-n-dı. |
| 5. Annem mektubu yazdı. (My mother wrote the letter.) |
Passive: Mektup yazıldı. (The letter was written.) Rule: Stem yaz ends in a consonant (z). Last vowel is a (a back, unrounded vowel). For this, we use -ıl → yaz-ıl-dı. |
| 6. Babam kapıyı açtı. (My father opened the door.) |
Passive: Kapı açıldı. (The door was opened.) Rule: Stem aç ends in a consonant (ç). Last vowel is a (back, unrounded). So, we add -ıl → aç-ıl-dı. |
| 7. Kuzenim kahveyi içti. (My cousin drank the coffee.) |
Passive: Kahve içildi. (The coffee was drunk.) Rule: Stem iç ends in a consonant (ç). Last vowel is i (a front, unrounded vowel). So, we add -il → iç-il-di. |
Why -ıl / -il / -ul / -ül and not just -l?
The passive suffix for consonant-ending stems is -l, but it cannot stand alone in Turkish; it needs a vowel before it. The specific vowel (ı, i, u, ü) is chosen based on the last vowel in the verb stem, following Major Vowel Harmony:
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-ıl / -il: Used after stems whose last vowel is unrounded (a, ı, e, i).
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-ıl follows back vowels (a, ı): yazıldı, açıldı.
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-il follows front vowels (e, i): içildi, yenildi.
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-ul / -ül: Used after stems whose last vowel is rounded (o, u, ö, ü).
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-ul follows back vowels (o, u): koyuldu (to be placed).
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-ül follows front vowels (ö, ü): görüldü (to be seen).
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In short: You don’t just add -l. You add -ıl, -il, -ul, or -ül, and the correct choice is dictated by the vowel in the verb root (back/front, rounded/unrounded).
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| Türkçe (Turkish) | English & Grammar Explanation |
|---|---|
| 1. Bu kitap bir haftada erkek kardeşim tarafından okundu. | English: This book was read by my brother in a week. Grammar: The verb root oku- ends in a vowel (u). Therefore, we add the passive suffix -n before the past tense suffix -du → oku-n-du. |
| 2. Bulaşıklar dün kız kardeşim tarafından yıkandı. | English: The dishes were washed by my sister yesterday. Grammar: The verb root yıka- ends in a vowel (a). Therefore, we add -n → yıka-n-dı (yıkandı). Why -n? When the verb stem ends in a vowel, the passive suffix -n is used to avoid two vowels clashing directly. It acts as a buffer consonant. |
| 3. Çikolatalı pasta partide teyzem tarafından yenildi. | English: The chocolate cake was eaten by my aunt at the party. Grammar: The verb ye- (to eat) is irregular. Its passive form is yen- (to be eaten) instead of the expected yeni-. So, we get yen-il-di. This is an exception to the standard rule. |
| 4. Duvar dün amcam tarafından boyandı. | English: The wall was painted by my uncle yesterday. Grammar: The verb root boya- ends in a vowel (a). Therefore, we add -n → boya-n-dı (boyandı). |
| 5. Mektup geçen hafta annem tarafından yazıldı. | English: The letter was written by my mother last week. Grammar: The verb root yaz ends in a consonant (z). Therefore, we add the passive suffix -ıl → yaz-ıl-dı (yazıldı). |
| 6. Kapı sabah babam tarafından açıldı. | English: The door was opened by my father in the morning. Grammar: The verb root aç ends in a consonant (ç). Therefore, we add -ıl → aç-ıl-dı (açıldı). |
| 7. Türk kahvesi bu sabah kuzenim tarafından içildi. | English: Turkish coffee was drunk by my cousin this morning. Grammar: The verb root iç ends in a consonant (ç). Therefore, we add -il → iç-il-di (içildi). |
| 8. Salata akşam yemeği için yeğenim tarafından yapıldı. | English: The salad was made by my nephew/niece for dinner. Grammar: The verb root yap ends in a consonant (p). Therefore, we add -ıl → yap-ıl-dı (yapıldı). |
Question: How is the number of syllables in a Turkish word determined?
Answer: In Turkish, the number of syllables is almost always equal to the number of vowels in the word. This is because Turkish has a clear vowel-centric syllable structure, and syllables are typically formed around a single vowel sound.
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General Rule: Each syllable must contain one vowel. Therefore, you can count the vowels (a, e, ı, i, o, ö, u, ü) to find the number of syllables.
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Diphthongs: Unlike English, Turkish does not have true diphthongs (gliding vowel combinations). Vowels appear separately in syllables.
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Example: The word “anlaşılır” (understandable) has the vowels a, ı, and ı. It therefore has three syllables: an-la-şıl-ır.
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Loan Words: Some foreign loanwords (e.g., “saat” – hour) may appear to break this rule, but in Turkish pronunciation, they are adapted so that each vowel still forms its own syllable: “sa-at” (2 syllables).
So, the simplest method is: Count the vowels.
Lesson Number 87