Different methods exist to create different forms from a single verb:

  • Reflexive: to express that the action happens “against” the author.

  • Contributive: the action is executed by different persons at the same time.

  • Factitive: the subject let the action happen.

  • Passive: the subject endures an action done by someone else.

  • Negation: the negative form of the verb.

  • Impossibility: when the subject cannot do the action.

These different methods can cumulate in this order, except the reflexive and the contributive as well as the negative form and the impossible form.

In other words, from a verb, we can create other verbs with different meaning by adding a suffix after the verb’s root.

VERBAL MODIFIERS

Example with görmek - to see

basic görmek to see
Reflexive gör-ün-mek to see yourself
Contributive gör-üş-mek to see at the same time by different persons
Factitive gör-dür-mek to let see
Passivity gör-ül-mek to be seen
Negativity gör-me-mek not see
Impossibility gör-eme-mek not be able to see

THE REFLEXIVE

This is the form of the verb to mean that the action is done “against” or “towards“ the author.

verb’s root + (i)n (following vocal harmony)

i (or u) is added if the last letter of the verb’s root is a consonant.

  • giymek - to dress

  • giy-in-mek - to dress yourself

  • soymak - to undress

  • soy-un-mak - to undress yourself

  • kapa-mak - to close

  • kapa-n-mak - to lock yourself

THE CONTRIBUTIVE

The contribute form is used when the action is been done at the same time by different persons :

verb’s root + (i)ş (following vocal harmony)

i is used if the last letter of the verb’s root is a consonant.

  • görmek : to see - gör--mek : to meet

  • Bu haftasonu, onlar parkta görüşeceğiz - They will meet this week end in the parc.

  • Annemle sık sık yazışıyoruz - We write to each other very often with my mother.

THE FACTITIVE

When the author let the action happen or make the action happen, the factitive is to be used.

verb’s root + t if the root is polysyllabic ending with a vowel, L or R.

verb’s root + dir if the root is monosyllabic ending with a consonant different of L and R.

Some factitives can be irregular :

  • yatırmak : to put someone to bed

  • korkutmak : to frighten someone

  • Bu işi başkalarına yaptırdık - We did this work done by other people.

  • Sana yeni bir yemek tattıracağım - I will make you taste a new meal.

  • Öğretmen öğrencilere matematiği sevdirir - The teacher makes the students like the mathematics.

THE PASSIVE

When the subject endures an action done by someone else we use the passive form

verb’s root + (i)l if the root ends with consonant different of L.

verb’s root + (i)n otherwise (same as reflexive case)

  • Şirketimiz hiç kimseye satılmayacak - Our company will be sold to no one.

THE NEGATION

verb’s root + me

  • Hastaları çok bekeltmeyiniz - Don’t make the sick people wait too much.

THE IMPOSSIBILITY

verb’s root + (y)eme

  • Bügün bankadan para çekemedim - Today I wasn’t able to withdraw money from the bank.

  • Babayla kız görüşemediler - The father and his daughter weren’t able to meet.

    gör-üş-eme-diler : contributive + impossibility