Turkish Verbs
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Turkish Past Definite Tenses
Was it seen? or Was it heard?
There are two Past Tenses in Turkish. The Definite Past Tenses ("Seen Tenses") are used when you have personal knowledge and witness of the action. These Definite Past tenses are like the English:
Past Perfect Tense
I have made it
Past Simple Tense
I made it
Past Imperfect Tense (Past Continuous)
I was making it
Past Pluperfect Tense
I had made it.
The Sign of the Definite Past is the addition of the suffix
-di-/-ti-, -dı-/-tı-, -dü-/-tü-, -du-/-tu- according to Vowel harmony and Consonant Mutation Rules, to which the Personal suffixes are added.
Continuous Past:
Geliyordum [Gel-iyor-dum]
I was coming
Simple Past:
Gelirdim [Gel-ir-dim]
I used to come
Future Past (Future in the Past):
Gelecektim [Gel-ecek-tim]
I was going to come
Pluperfect (Past in the Past):
Gelmiştim [Gel-miş-tim]
I had come
The
-miş suffix here does not convey any inferential meaning in the Pluperfect Tense. Necessitative Past (Obligation in the Past):
Gelmeliydim I had to come
Conditional Past:
Gelseydim [Gel-se-ydim]
If only I had come
All these tenses are discussed in the next pages.
Formation of Definite Past Tenses
|
Turkish Definite Past Conjugation |
|
E-Verb Stem A-Verb Stem |
|
geldim (gel-di-m) |
I came |
anladım (anla-dı-m) |
I understood |
|
geldin (gel-di-n) |
you came |
anladın (anla-dı-n) |
you understood |
|
(o) geldi (gel-di) |
he/she/it came |
(o) anladı (anla-dı) |
he understood |
|
geldik (gel-di-k) |
we came |
anladık (anla-dı-k) |
we understood |
|
geldiniz (gel-di-niz) |
you came |
anladınız (anla-dı-nız) |
you understood |
|
|
The suffixes
-dı- -di- -du- -dü- or
-tı- -ti- -tu- -tü- when added to verb root ending in
p ç k t ş. Personal suffixes are added
to complete the verb in number.The past tense suffix follow vowel harmony and consonant mutation rules.
|
geldiler (gel-di-ler) |
they came |
anladılar (anla-dı-lar) |
they understood |
|
İ-Verb Stem I-Verb Stem |
|
içtim (iç-ti-m) |
I drank/smoked |
çıktım (çık-tı-m) |
I went out |
|
içtin |
you drank/smoked |
çıktın |
you went out |
|
(o) içti |
he drank/smoked |
(o) çıktı |
he went out |
|
içtik |
we drank/smoked |
çıktık |
we went out |
|
içtiniz |
you drank/smoked |
çıktınız |
you went out |
|
içtiler |
they drank/smoked |
çıktılar |
they went out |
|
Ö-Verb Stem O-Verb Stem |
|
gördüm (gör-dü-m) |
I saw |
koştum (koş-tu-m) |
I ran |
|
gördün |
you saw |
koştun |
you ran |
|
(o) gördü |
he/she/it saw |
(o) koştu |
he ran |
|
gördük |
we saw |
koştuk |
we ran |
|
gördünüz |
you saw |
koştunuz |
you ran |
|
gördüler |
they saw |
koştular |
they ran |
|
Ü-Verb Stem U-Verb Stem |
|
güldüm (gül-dü-m) |
I laughed |
buldum (bul-du-m) |
I found |
|
güldün |
you laughed |
buldun |
you found |
|
(o) güldü |
he/she/it laughed |
(o) buldu |
he found |
|
güldük |
we laughed |
bulduk |
we found |
|
güldünüz |
you laughed |
buldunuz |
you found |
|
|
|
|
|
güldüler |
they laughed |
buldular |
they found |
Formation of Indefinite (Inferential) Past Tenses
The Indefinite Past Tenses ("heard tenses") are used, by inference, to transfer information that you have not actually seen and witnessed yourself. There is no Inferential Tensein English, not many languages have one. The idea of inference is communicated by other ways. English speakers do this automatically and just a few of the ways are as follow:
I think that I went out [doubt]
Presumably you have left [possibility]
He has left as far as I know [reportative]
I think that we left at [uncertainty]
They say that you went out [hearsay]
Its pretty sure that they have left [probability]
All the examples above show that this tense is used whenever the speaker has not been an eyewitness to the past events. The Inferential Tense used for reporting unwitnessed events, or implying possibility, doubt or uncertainty. It is often used in telling jokes and stories.
The Sign of the Indefinite (Inferential) Past is the addition of the suffix
-miş- -mış- -müş- -muş- to which the past tense personal suffixes are added.
Continuous Inferential:
Geliyormuşum [Gel-iyor-muş-um]
It seems (they say) I am coming.
Future Inferential:
Gelecekmişim. [Gel-ecekm-iş-im]
It seems I shall come
Simple Inferential:
Gelirmişim. [Gel-ir-miş-im]
It seems I come.
Necessitative Inferential:
Gelmeliymişim. [Gel-meli-ymiş-im]
They say I must have come.
The form "it seems…" gives the sense of inference in these examples by showing that there is a doubt in what is being stated. There are many ways of modifying speech in English to show these various nuances of doubt, uncertainty or hearsay. All these modifications and nuances are inherent in the turkish inferential
-miş- tense itself. Extra words of explanation are not required for clarification purposes.
In English this tense can be translated as:
I believe that he went out. We think that he has arrived.
Presumably the train will be on time.
All showing some uncertainty or lack of prior knowledge.
This tense is widely used on a daily basis in spoken and written Turkish. It is used all the time in daily conversation.
English shows shades of meaning using exra words:
çıkmışım. I think that I went out. [doubt]
çıkmışsın. Presumably you have left. [possibility]
çıkmış. He has left as far as I know. [reportative]
çıkmışız. I think that we left at… [uncertainty]
çıkmışsınız. They say that you went out. [hearsay]
çıkmışlar. Its pretty sure that they have left [probability]
The inferential is used whenever the speaker has dounbt about the events.
As a question:
Mehmet çıktı mı? Has Mehmet gone out?
Past definite answer:
O çıktı. He has gone out. meaning
Yes he has gone out for sure [I saw him go.] Past inferential (indefinite) answer:
O çıkmış. He has gone out. meaning
As far as I know he has left. This "doubt" within the
-miş inferential tense itself.
Turkish Interential Negative Forms
Examples of the Negative Verb yapmamak to not do
In Turkish
"I think that…" is not required in Turkish, the inferential
-miş Tense already says it.
Ben yapmamışım ki. (I think that) I did not do it.
Sen yapmamışsın ki. (They say that) You did not do it.
O yapmamış ki. (It seems that) He did not do it.
Biz yapmamışız ki. (They say that) We did not do it.
Siz yapmamışsınız ki. (It is reported that) You did not do it.
Onlar yapmamışlar ki. (Apparently) They did not do it.
(but they might have).
ki is an object
it/that to complete the sentence.
Turkish Inferential Question Forms
The interrogative particle
-mi follows the verb and is written separately together with the relevant personal pronoun:
Onu yapmış mıyım? Have I done it [I wonder]?
Did I do it, [I'm not sure]?
Onu yapmış mısın? Have you done it [at all]?
Did you do it [anyrate]?
Onu yapmış mı? Has he done it [then]?
Did he do it [yet]?
Onu yapmış mıyız? Have we done it [I wonder]?
Did we do it, [I'm not sure]?
Onu yapmış mısınız? Have you done it [at all]?
Did you do it [anyrate]?
Onu yapmışlar mı? Have they done it [surely]?
Did they do it [yet]?
Onu yapmamış mıyım? Haven't I done it [I wonder]?
Didn't I do it, [I'm not sure…]?
Onu yapmamış mısın?-
Haven't you done it [at all]?
Didn't you do it [anyrate]?
Onu yapmamış mı?-
Hasn't he done it [then]?
Didn't he do it [yet]?
Onu yapmamış mıyız? Haven't we done it [I wonder]?
Didn't we do it, [I'm not sure]?
Onu yapmamış mısınız? Haven't you done it [at all]?
Didn't you do it [anyrate]?
Onu yapmamışlar mı?-
Haven't they done it [surely]?
Didn't they do it [yet]?
Çıkmış mi? Has he (seemingly) left? [would you know? possibility.]
Gülmüşler mi ? Did they laugh? (at all?) [a question asking for a report.]
Onu yapmamış mısınız? Haven't you done it? [at all? uncertainty.]
Onu yapmamış mısınız? You haven't (gone and) done it have you? [doubt and incredulity]
The Tense Sign suffix
-miş-, -mış-, -müş-, -muş- and the personal ending are added to the verb stem, in all cases Vowel harmony and Consonant Mutation rules are applied.
|
|
E-Verb Stem A-Verb Stem |
|
gelmişim (gel-miş-im) |
I have come |
anlamışım (anla-mış-ım) |
I have understood |
|
gelmişsin (gel-miş-sin) |
you have come |
anlamışsın (anla-mış-sın) |
you have understood |
|
(o) gelmiş (gel-miş) |
he/she/it has come |
(o) anlamış (anla-mış) |
he have understood |
|
gelmişiz (gel-miş-iz) |
we have come |
anlamışız (anla-mış-ız) |
we have understood |
|
gelmişsiniz (gel-miş-siniz) |
you have come |
anlamışsınız (anla-mış-sınız) |
you have understood |
|
gelmişler (gel-miş-ler) |
they have come |
anlamışlar (anla-mış-lar) |
they have understood |
|
İ-Verb Stem I-Verb Stem |
|
içmişim (iç-miş-im) |
I have drunk/smoked |
çıkmışım (çık-mış-ım) |
I have gone out |
|
içmişsin |
you have drunk/smoked |
çıkmışsın |
you have gone out |
|
(o) içmiş |
he has drunk/smoked |
(o) çıkmış |
he have gone out |
|
içmişiz |
we have drunk/smoked |
çıkmışız |
we have gone out |
|
içmişsiniz |
you have drunk/smoked |
çıkmışsınız |
you have gone out |
|
içmişler |
they have drunk/smoked |
çıkmışlar |
they have gone out |
|
Ö-Verb Stem O-Verb Stem |
|
görmüşüm (gör-müş-üm) |
I have seen |
koşmuşum (koş-muş-um) |
I have run |
|
görmüşsün |
you have seen |
koşmuşsun |
you have run |
|
(o) görmüş |
he/she/it have seen |
(o) koşmuş |
he have run |
|
görmüşüz |
we have seen |
koşmuşuz |
we have run |
|
görmüşsünüz |
you have seen |
koşmuşsunuz |
you have run |
|
görmüşler |
they have seen |
koşmuşlar |
they have run |
|
Ü-Verb Stem U-Verb Stem |
|
gülmüşüm (gül-müş-üm) |
I have laughed |
bulmuşum (bul-muş-um) |
I have found |
|
gülmüşsün |
you have laughed |
bulmuşsun |
you have found |
|
(o) gülmüş |
he/she/it have laughed |
(o) bulmuş |
he have found |
|
gülmüşüz |
we have laughed |
bulmuşuz |
we have found |
|
gülmüşsünüz |
you have laughed |
bulmuşsunuz |
you have found |
|
gülmüşler |
they have laughed |
bulmuşlar |
they have found |
Turkish Negative Past Tenses
|
Turkish Past Negative Conjugation |
|
Past Definite Past Inferential |
|
anlamadım |
I didn't understand/have not understood |
anlamamışım |
I did not understand (it seems) |
|
anlamadın |
you didn't understand |
anlamamışsın |
you did not understand |
|
(o) anlamadı |
he, she, it didn't understand |
(o) anlamamış |
he did not understand |
|
anlamadık |
we didn't understand / we have not understood |
anlamamışız |
we did not understand |
|
anlamadınız |
you didn't understand / you have not understood |
anlamamışsınız |
you did not understand |
|
|
For the
Perfect Past Tense Definite (Seen) the suffix
-dı-, -di-, -du-, -dü- is added to the negative verb form. For the
Perfect Past Tense Indefinite (Heard) the suffix
-mış-, -miş-, -muş-, müş- is added to the negative verb form. In both
tenses the person is then added to complete the personalized verb.
|
anlamadılar |
they don't understand / they have not understood |
anlamamışlar |
they did not understand |
|
Past Definite Past Inferential |
|
gitmedim |
I didn't go |
gitmemişim |
I have not gone (it seems) |
|
gitmedin |
you didn't go |
gitmemişsin |
you did not go |
|
(o) gitmedi |
he, she, it didn't go |
(o) gitmemiş |
he did not go |
|
gitmedik |
we didn't go |
gitmemişiz |
we did not go |
|
gitmediniz |
you didn't go |
gitmemişsiniz |
you did not go |
|
gitmediler |
they don't go |
gitmemişler |
they did not go |
A Turkish Joke in the Inferential Tense
Sınıfta öğretmen sormuş - Dalda üç kus var, birini vurdum kaç tane kalır?
In class a teacher asked "There were three birds on a branch, I hit one how many are left?"
Çocuk cevaplamış - Hiç kalmaz öğretmenim.
A child answered "None at all remained, sir"
- Olur mu oğlum? - demiş öğretmen - 2 tane kalır.
"Really, my lad?" said the teacher "Two of them remain."
Olmaz öğretmenim - demiş çocuk - Siz birini vurunca diğerleri aptal değil ya sesten ürküp kaçarlar...
"No way, sir" said the child "When you hit one of them, the others not being fools, were startled by the sound and flew off.."
Öğretmen sasırmış ve - Aferin oğlum! Cevabin yanlış ama düşünce tarzını beğendim. - demiş. The teacher was surprised and "Well done, my lad!" Your answer is wrong but I like your style." he said
Sonra çocuk - Öğretmenim, ben de size bir şey sormak istiyorum: Karsıdan üç tane bayan geliyor, üçü de dondurma yiyor, ama biri yalayarak, biri ısırarak, diğeri de emerek yiyor dondurmayı. Sizce bunlardan hangisi evlidir?
Then the child said "Sir, I want to ask you something: There are three ladies coming opposite and they are eating ice cream, but one is licking, one eating and on sucking the ice cream. Which one do you think is married?"
Öğretmen kızmış ama, cevap veremedi dedirtmemek için belli etmemiş - Yalarak yiyen evlidir -demiş. The teacher got angry but not to show that he could not answer "The one licking is married" he said.
Çocuk - Olur mu öğretmenim ne alakası var, parmağında yüzük olan evlidir - demiş - Ama düşünce tarzınızı beğendim.
The child "Really sir? What a thing to say, the one with the ring on her finger is married" he said "But I like your style."
Quotation marks (" ") are not use in the Turkish speech above. Instead It is normal when writing Turkish to use the dash (-).
Turkish Definite Past Continuous Tense (gram: imperfect)
|
Turkish Definite Past Continuous |
|
Positive |
gelmek |
Negative |
gitmemek |
|
geliyordum [gel-iyor-du-m] |
I was coming |
gitmiyordum [gitm-iyor-du-m] |
I wasn't going |
|
geliyordun |
you were coming |
gitmiyordun |
you weren't going |
|
(o) geliyordu |
he/she/it was coming |
(o) gitmiyordu |
he/she/it wasn't going |
|
geliyorduk |
we were coming |
gitmiyorduk |
we weren't going |
|
geliyordunuz |
you were coming |
gitmiyordunuz |
you weren't going |
|
geliyorlardı
or geliyordular |
they were coming |
gitmiyorlardı
or gitmiyordular |
they weren't going |
|
|
Formation is: verb stem + present tense suffix [-iyor-] + past tense suffix [-di-] + personal ending. All these meanings are
witnessed. The must be construed as "true".
Turkish Indefinite Past Continuous Tense
|
Turkish Indefinite Past Continuous |
|
Positive |
bilmek |
Negative |
okumamak |
|
biliyormuşum [bil-iyor-muş-um] |
(it seems) I was knowing |
okumuyormuşum [okum-uyor-muşum] |
(it seems) I wasn't reading |
|
biliyormuşsun |
you were knowing |
okumuyormuşsun |
you weren't reading |
|
(o) biliyormuş |
he/she/it was knowing |
(o) okumuyormuş |
he/she/it wasn't reading |
|
biliyormuşuz |
we were knowing |
okumuyormuşuz |
we weren't reading |
|
biliyormuşsunuz |
you were knowing |
okumuyormuşsunuz |
you weren't reading |
|
|
Formation is: verb stem + present tense suffix [-iyor-] + past tense suffix [-miş-] + personal ending. All the meanings must
be construed as "hearsay". They may or may not be true.
|
|
|
|
|
biliyorlarmış
or geliyormuşlar |
they were knowing |
okumuyorlarmış
or okumuyormuşlar |
they weren't reading |
Examples of Indefinite Past/Present Continuous Tense Negative (Hearsay)
anlamamak to not understand
anlamıyormuşum it seem that I was not understanding anlamıyormuşsun it seem that you were not understanding anlamıyormuş it seem that he was not understanding anlamıyormuşuz it seem that we were not understanding anlamıyormuşsunuz it seem that you were not understanding anlamıyorlarmış it seem that they were not understanding
gitmemek not to go
gitmiyormuşum presumably I was not going gitmiyormuşsun apparently you were not going gitmiyormuş it seems he is not going gitmiyormuşuz possibly we are not going gitmiyormuşsunuz it seems you are not going gitmiyorlarmış apparently they are not going
Turkish Past Continuous Tense Interrogative Positive
Was I going?, Were you crying?, Was he waiting?, Were we arranging?, Were you saying?, Wre they selling?
The verb stem is suffixed with
-iyor plus he past tense personalised question tags which are written separately. The third person plural is suffixed with
-iyorlar
- Positive Interrogative Examples:
- bekliyor muydum? Was I waiting?
- gidiyor muydum? Was I going?
Turkish Past Continuous Tense Interrogative Negative
The past tense question tags are written separately.
- Negative Interrogative Example:
- gitmiyor muydum? Wasn't I going?
- ağlamıyor muydun? Weren't you crying?
- beklemiyor muydu? Weren't you waiting?
- toplamıyor muyduk? Weren't we arranging?
- söylemiyor muydunuz? Weren't you saying?
- satmıyorlar mıydı? Weren't they selling?
|
Definite -di and Indefinite -miş Past Tense Examples |
|
Turkish |
English |
Positive Definite |
Positive Indefinite |
Negative Definite |
Negative Indefinite |
|
almak |
to take |
aldı |
almış |
almadı |
almamış |
|
aramak |
to look for |
aradı |
aramış |
aramadı |
aramamış |
|
bitmek |
to end |
bitti |
bitmiş |
bitmedi |
bitmemiş |
|
içmek |
to drink/smoke |
içti |
içmiş |
içmedi |
içmemiş |
|
başlamak |
to start |
başladı |
başlamış |
başlamadı |
başlamamış |
|
çalışmak |
to work |
çalıştı |
çalışmış |
çalışmadı |
çalışmamış |
|
gelmek |
to come |
geldi |
gelmiş |
gelmedi |
gelmemiş |
|
görmek |
to see |
gördü |
görmüş |
görmedi |
görmemiş |
|
gülmek |
to laugh |
güldü |
gülmüş |
gülmedi |
gülmemiş |
|
kızmak |
to get angry |
kızdı |
kızmış |
kızmadı |
kızmamış |
|
okumak |
to read |
okudu |
okumuş |
okumadı |
okumamış |
|
vermek |
to give |
verdi |
vermiş |
vermedi |
vermemiş |
|
yapmak |
to do/make |
yaptı |
yapmış |
yapmadı |
yapmamış |
Examples of Questions in the Definite Past Tenses
Note that the
mi? question particle follows the full verb in the Past Tense.
Okula gittin mi? Did you go to school? [Eng: Have you been to school?]
Okula gitmeli miydin? Did you have go to school? [Eng: Did you have to go to school?]
Ayşe ders çalıştı mı? Has Ayshe done her lesson?
Mehmet televizyon seyrediyor muydu? Was Mehmet watching television? Mehmet televizyonu seyrediyor muydu? Was Mehmet watching THE television? Kemal gazete okudu mu? Did Kemal read a newspaper? [unspecified object]
Kemal gazeteyi okudu mu? Did Kemal read THE newspaper? [specified object]
Kemal bu gazeteyi okudu mu? Did Kemal read THIS newspaper? [demonstrated specific object]
Serhan içki içti mi? Did Serhan drink alcohol? [
içki =
alcoholic drink]
Serhan içki içiyor muydu? Was Serhan drinking alcohol?
Faruk Ankara'ya gitti mi? Has Faruk gone Ankara?
Faruk Ankara'ya gidebildi mi? Was Faruk able to go Ankara?
Turkish Past Definite Perfect Tense Conjugation "I had written"
The Past Perfect Definite is formed by adding the Definite past tense suffix to the Past Tense
-miş form of the verb. There is no hearsay or doubt in the meaning of this tense as it is made definite and specific by the addition of the past definite suffix in
-di. This tense signifies the definite Past in The Past.
"I had done it."
- gelmiştim [gelmiş-tim] I had come
- unutmuştun [unutmuş-tun] you had forgotten
- yürümüştü [yürümüş-tü] he had walked
- bilmiştik [bilmiş-tik] we had known
- çıkmıştınız [çıkmış-tınız] you had gone out
- anlamıştılar [anlamış-tılar] they had understood
Turkish Past Indefinite Perfect Tense Conjugation
The Past Perfect Indefinite is formed by adding the indefinite past tense suffix
-miş to the past tense
-miş form of the verb. There is hearsay or doubt in the meaning of this tense as it is made indefinite and unspecific by the addition of the past indefinite suffix in
-miş. This tense signifies the indefinite Past in The Past.
"(I thought) I had done it."
- gelmişmışım [gelmiş-mişim] I had come (apparently)
- unutmuşmuşsun [unutmuş-muşsun] you had forgotten (apparently)
- yürümüşmüs [yürümüş-muş] he had walked (apparently)
- bilmişmişiz [bilmiş-mişiz] we had known (apparently)
- çıkmışmışsınız [çıkmış-mışsınız] you had gone out (apparently)
- anlamışmışlar [anlamış-mışlar] they had understood (apparently)
The Turkish indefinite past perfect IS USED in daily conversation. It is also used for sarcasm as in English: "You just had to be rude to your teacher yesterday! (apparently)"
"He had to leave his wife and kids for another floozie! (it seems)"
|
Turkish Past Perfect Tense Conjugation |
|
Definite Indefinite |
|
gelmiştim [gelmiş-tim] |
I had come |
gelmişmişim [gelmiş-mişim] |
I had come |
|
unutmuştun [unutmuş- tun] |
you had forgotten |
unutmuşmuşsun [unutmuş- muşsun] |
you had forgotten |
|
yürümüştü [yürümüş-tü] |
he had walked |
yürümüşmüş [yürümüş-müş] |
he had walked |
|
bilmiştik [bilmiş-tik] |
we had known |
bilmişmişiz [bilmiş-mişiz] |
we had known |
|
çıkmıştınız [çıkmış-tınız] |
you had gone out |
çıkmışmışsınız [çıkmış-mışsınız |
you had gone out |
|
anlamıştılar [anlamış-tılar] |
they had understood |
anlamışmışlar [anlamış-mışlar] |
they had understood |
Turkish Verbs - the Past Tenses
Turkish Past Definite Tenses
Was it seen? or Was it heard?
There are two Past Tenses in Turkish. The Definite Past Tenses ("Seen Tenses") are used when you have personal knowledge and witness of the action. These Definite Past tenses are like the English:
Past Perfect Tense
I have made it
Past Simple Tense
I made it
Past Imperfect Tense (Past Continuous)
I was making it
Past Pluperfect Tense
I had made it.
The Sign of the Definite Past is the addition of the suffix
-di-/-ti-, -dı-/-tı-, -dü-/-tü-, -du-/-tu- according to Vowel harmony and Consonant Mutation Rules, to which the Personal suffixes are added.
Continuous Past:
Geliyordum [Gel-iyor-dum]
I was coming
Simple Past:
Gelirdim [Gel-ir-dim]
I used to come
Future Past (Future in the Past):
Gelecektim [Gel-ecek-tim]
I was going to come
Pluperfect (Past in the Past):
Gelmiştim [Gel-miş-tim]
I had come
The
-miş suffix here does not convey any inferential meaning in the Pluperfect Tense. Necessitative Past (Obligation in the Past):
Gelmeliydim I had to come
Conditional Past:
Gelseydim [Gel-se-ydim]
If only I had come
All these tenses are discussed in the next pages.
Formation of Definite Past Tenses
|
Turkish Definite Past Conjugation |
|
E-Verb Stem A-Verb Stem |
|
geldim (gel-di-m) |
I came |
anladım (anla-dı-m) |
I understood |
|
geldin (gel-di-n) |
you came |
anladın (anla-dı-n) |
you understood |
|
(o) geldi (gel-di) |
he/she/it came |
(o) anladı (anla-dı) |
he understood |
|
geldik (gel-di-k) |
we came |
anladık (anla-dı-k) |
we understood |
|
geldiniz (gel-di-niz) |
you came |
anladınız (anla-dı-nız) |
you understood |
|
|
The suffixes
-dı- -di- -du- -dü- or
-tı- -ti- -tu- -tü- when added to verb root ending in
p ç k t ş. Personal suffixes are added
to complete the verb in number.The past tense suffix follow vowel harmony and consonant mutation rules.
|
geldiler (gel-di-ler) |
they came |
anladılar (anla-dı-lar) |
they understood |
|
İ-Verb Stem I-Verb Stem |
|
içtim (iç-ti-m) |
I drank/smoked |
çıktım (çık-tı-m) |
I went out |
|
içtin |
you drank/smoked |
çıktın |
you went out |
|
(o) içti |
he drank/smoked |
(o) çıktı |
he went out |
|
içtik |
we drank/smoked |
çıktık |
we went out |
|
içtiniz |
you drank/smoked |
çıktınız |
you went out |
|
içtiler |
they drank/smoked |
çıktılar |
they went out |
|
Ö-Verb Stem O-Verb Stem |
|
gördüm (gör-dü-m) |
I saw |
koştum (koş-tu-m) |
I ran |
|
gördün |
you saw |
koştun |
you ran |
|
(o) gördü |
he/she/it saw |
(o) koştu |
he ran |
|
gördük |
we saw |
koştuk |
we ran |
|
gördünüz |
you saw |
koştunuz |
you ran |
|
gördüler |
they saw |
koştular |
they ran |
|
Ü-Verb Stem U-Verb Stem |
|
güldüm (gül-dü-m) |
I laughed |
buldum (bul-du-m) |
I found |
|
güldün |
you laughed |
buldun |
you found |
|
(o) güldü |
he/she/it laughed |
(o) buldu |
he found |
|
güldük |
we laughed |
bulduk |
we found |
|
güldünüz |
you laughed |
buldunuz |
you found |
|
|
|
|
|
güldüler |
they laughed |
buldular |
they found |
Formation of Indefinite (Inferential) Past Tenses
The Indefinite Past Tenses ("heard tenses") are used, by inference, to transfer information that you have not actually seen and witnessed yourself. There is no Inferential Tensein English, not many languages have one. The idea of inference is communicated by other ways. English speakers do this automatically and just a few of the ways are as follow:
I think that I went out [doubt]
Presumably you have left [possibility]
He has left as far as I know [reportative]
I think that we left at [uncertainty]
They say that you went out [hearsay]
Its pretty sure that they have left [probability]
All the examples above show that this tense is used whenever the speaker has not been an eyewitness to the past events. The Inferential Tense used for reporting unwitnessed events, or implying possibility, doubt or uncertainty. It is often used in telling jokes and stories.
The Sign of the Indefinite (Inferential) Past is the addition of the suffix
-miş- -mış- -müş- -muş- to which the past tense personal suffixes are added.
Continuous Inferential:
Geliyormuşum [Gel-iyor-muş-um]
It seems (they say) I am coming.
Future Inferential:
Gelecekmişim. [Gel-ecekm-iş-im]
It seems I shall come
Simple Inferential:
Gelirmişim. [Gel-ir-miş-im]
It seems I come.
Necessitative Inferential:
Gelmeliymişim. [Gel-meli-ymiş-im]
They say I must have come.
The form "it seems…" gives the sense of inference in these examples by showing that there is a doubt in what is being stated. There are many ways of modifying speech in English to show these various nuances of doubt, uncertainty or hearsay. All these modifications and nuances are inherent in the turkish inferential
-miş- tense itself. Extra words of explanation are not required for clarification purposes.
In English this tense can be translated as:
I believe that he went out. We think that he has arrived.
Presumably the train will be on time.
All showing some uncertainty or lack of prior knowledge.
This tense is widely used on a daily basis in spoken and written Turkish. It is used all the time in daily conversation.
English shows shades of meaning using exra words:
çıkmışım. I think that I went out. [doubt]
çıkmışsın. Presumably you have left. [possibility]
çıkmış. He has left as far as I know. [reportative]
çıkmışız. I think that we left at… [uncertainty]
çıkmışsınız. They say that you went out. [hearsay]
çıkmışlar. Its pretty sure that they have left [probability]
The inferential is used whenever the speaker has dounbt about the events.
As a question:
Mehmet çıktı mı? Has Mehmet gone out?
Past definite answer:
O çıktı. He has gone out. meaning
Yes he has gone out for sure [I saw him go.] Past inferential (indefinite) answer:
O çıkmış. He has gone out. meaning
As far as I know he has left. This "doubt" within the
-miş inferential tense itself.
Turkish Interential Negative Forms
Examples of the Negative Verb yapmamak to not do
In Turkish
"I think that…" is not required in Turkish, the inferential
-miş Tense already says it.
Ben yapmamışım ki. (I think that) I did not do it.
Sen yapmamışsın ki. (They say that) You did not do it.
O yapmamış ki. (It seems that) He did not do it.
Biz yapmamışız ki. (They say that) We did not do it.
Siz yapmamışsınız ki. (It is reported that) You did not do it.
Onlar yapmamışlar ki. (Apparently) They did not do it.
(but they might have).
ki is an object
it/that to complete the sentence.
Turkish Inferential Question Forms
The interrogative particle
-mi follows the verb and is written separately together with the relevant personal pronoun:
Onu yapmış mıyım? Have I done it [I wonder]?
Did I do it, [I'm not sure]?
Onu yapmış mısın? Have you done it [at all]?
Did you do it [anyrate]?
Onu yapmış mı? Has he done it [then]?
Did he do it [yet]?
Onu yapmış mıyız? Have we done it [I wonder]?
Did we do it, [I'm not sure]?
Onu yapmış mısınız? Have you done it [at all]?
Did you do it [anyrate]?
Onu yapmışlar mı? Have they done it [surely]?
Did they do it [yet]?
Onu yapmamış mıyım? Haven't I done it [I wonder]?
Didn't I do it, [I'm not sure…]?
Onu yapmamış mısın?-
Haven't you done it [at all]?
Didn't you do it [anyrate]?
Onu yapmamış mı?-
Hasn't he done it [then]?
Didn't he do it [yet]?
Onu yapmamış mıyız? Haven't we done it [I wonder]?
Didn't we do it, [I'm not sure]?
Onu yapmamış mısınız? Haven't you done it [at all]?
Didn't you do it [anyrate]?
Onu yapmamışlar mı?-
Haven't they done it [surely]?
Didn't they do it [yet]?
Çıkmış mi? Has he (seemingly) left? [would you know? possibility.]
Gülmüşler mi ? Did they laugh? (at all?) [a question asking for a report.]
Onu yapmamış mısınız? Haven't you done it? [at all? uncertainty.]
Onu yapmamış mısınız? You haven't (gone and) done it have you? [doubt and incredulity]
The Tense Sign suffix
-miş-, -mış-, -müş-, -muş- and the personal ending are added to the verb stem, in all cases Vowel harmony and Consonant Mutation rules are applied.
|
|
E-Verb Stem A-Verb Stem |
|
gelmişim (gel-miş-im) |
I have come |
anlamışım (anla-mış-ım) |
I have understood |
|
gelmişsin (gel-miş-sin) |
you have come |
anlamışsın (anla-mış-sın) |
you have understood |
|
(o) gelmiş (gel-miş) |
he/she/it has come |
(o) anlamış (anla-mış) |
he have understood |
|
gelmişiz (gel-miş-iz) |
we have come |
anlamışız (anla-mış-ız) |
we have understood |
|
gelmişsiniz (gel-miş-siniz) |
you have come |
anlamışsınız (anla-mış-sınız) |
you have understood |
|
gelmişler (gel-miş-ler) |
they have come |
anlamışlar (anla-mış-lar) |
they have understood |
|
İ-Verb Stem I-Verb Stem |
|
içmişim (iç-miş-im) |
I have drunk/smoked |
çıkmışım (çık-mış-ım) |
I have gone out |
|
içmişsin |
you have drunk/smoked |
çıkmışsın |
you have gone out |
|
(o) içmiş |
he has drunk/smoked |
(o) çıkmış |
he have gone out |
|
içmişiz |
we have drunk/smoked |
çıkmışız |
we have gone out |
|
içmişsiniz |
you have drunk/smoked |
çıkmışsınız |
you have gone out |
|
içmişler |
they have drunk/smoked |
çıkmışlar |
they have gone out |
|
Ö-Verb Stem O-Verb Stem |
|
görmüşüm (gör-müş-üm) |
I have seen |
koşmuşum (koş-muş-um) |
I have run |
|
görmüşsün |
you have seen |
koşmuşsun |
you have run |
|
(o) görmüş |
he/she/it have seen |
(o) koşmuş |
he have run |
|
görmüşüz |
we have seen |
koşmuşuz |
we have run |
|
görmüşsünüz |
you have seen |
koşmuşsunuz |
you have run |
|
görmüşler |
they have seen |
koşmuşlar |
they have run |
|
Ü-Verb Stem U-Verb Stem |
|
gülmüşüm (gül-müş-üm) |
I have laughed |
bulmuşum (bul-muş-um) |
I have found |
|
gülmüşsün |
you have laughed |
bulmuşsun |
you have found |
|
(o) gülmüş |
he/she/it have laughed |
(o) bulmuş |
he have found |
|
gülmüşüz |
we have laughed |
bulmuşuz |
we have found |
|
gülmüşsünüz |
you have laughed |
bulmuşsunuz |
you have found |
|
gülmüşler |
they have laughed |
bulmuşlar |
they have found |
Turkish Negative Past Tenses
|
Turkish Past Negative Conjugation |
|
Past Definite Past Inferential |
|
anlamadım |
I didn't understand/have not understood |
anlamamışım |
I did not understand (it seems) |
|
anlamadın |
you didn't understand |
anlamamışsın |
you did not understand |
|
(o) anlamadı |
he, she, it didn't understand |
(o) anlamamış |
he did not understand |
|
anlamadık |
we didn't understand / we have not understood |
anlamamışız |
we did not understand |
|
anlamadınız |
you didn't understand / you have not understood |
anlamamışsınız |
you did not understand |
|
|
For the
Perfect Past Tense Definite (Seen) the suffix
-dı-, -di-, -du-, -dü- is added to the negative verb form. For the
Perfect Past Tense Indefinite (Heard) the suffix
-mış-, -miş-, -muş-, müş- is added to the negative verb form. In both
tenses the person is then added to complete the personalized verb.
|
anlamadılar |
they don't understand / they have not understood |
anlamamışlar |
they did not understand |
|
Past Definite Past Inferential |
|
gitmedim |
I didn't go |
gitmemişim |
I have not gone (it seems) |
|
gitmedin |
you didn't go |
gitmemişsin |
you did not go |
|
(o) gitmedi |
he, she, it didn't go |
(o) gitmemiş |
he did not go |
|
gitmedik |
we didn't go |
gitmemişiz |
we did not go |
|
gitmediniz |
you didn't go |
gitmemişsiniz |
you did not go |
|
gitmediler |
they don't go |
gitmemişler |
they did not go |
A Turkish Joke in the Inferential Tense
Sınıfta öğretmen sormuş - Dalda üç kus var, birini vurdum kaç tane kalır?
In class a teacher asked "There were three birds on a branch, I hit one how many are left?"
Çocuk cevaplamış - Hiç kalmaz öğretmenim.
A child answered "None at all remained, sir"
- Olur mu oğlum? - demiş öğretmen - 2 tane kalır.
"Really, my lad?" said the teacher "Two of them remain."
Olmaz öğretmenim - demiş çocuk - Siz birini vurunca diğerleri aptal değil ya sesten ürküp kaçarlar...
"No way, sir" said the child "When you hit one of them, the others not being fools, were startled by the sound and flew off.."
Öğretmen sasırmış ve - Aferin oğlum! Cevabin yanlış ama düşünce tarzını beğendim. - demiş. The teacher was surprised and "Well done, my lad!" Your answer is wrong but I like your style." he said
Sonra çocuk - Öğretmenim, ben de size bir şey sormak istiyorum: Karsıdan üç tane bayan geliyor, üçü de dondurma yiyor, ama biri yalayarak, biri ısırarak, diğeri de emerek yiyor dondurmayı. Sizce bunlardan hangisi evlidir?
Then the child said "Sir, I want to ask you something: There are three ladies coming opposite and they are eating ice cream, but one is licking, one eating and on sucking the ice cream. Which one do you think is married?"
Öğretmen kızmış ama, cevap veremedi dedirtmemek için belli etmemiş - Yalarak yiyen evlidir -demiş. The teacher got angry but not to show that he could not answer "The one licking is married" he said.
Çocuk - Olur mu öğretmenim ne alakası var, parmağında yüzük olan evlidir - demiş - Ama düşünce tarzınızı beğendim.
The child "Really sir? What a thing to say, the one with the ring on her finger is married" he said "But I like your style."
Quotation marks (" ") are not use in the Turkish speech above. Instead It is normal when writing Turkish to use the dash (-).
Turkish Definite Past Continuous Tense (gram: imperfect)
|
Turkish Definite Past Continuous |
|
Positive |
gelmek |
Negative |
gitmemek |
|
geliyordum [gel-iyor-du-m] |
I was coming |
gitmiyordum [gitm-iyor-du-m] |
I wasn't going |
|
geliyordun |
you were coming |
gitmiyordun |
you weren't going |
|
(o) geliyordu |
he/she/it was coming |
(o) gitmiyordu |
he/she/it wasn't going |
|
geliyorduk |
we were coming |
gitmiyorduk |
we weren't going |
|
geliyordunuz |
you were coming |
gitmiyordunuz |
you weren't going |
|
geliyorlardı
or geliyordular |
they were coming |
gitmiyorlardı
or gitmiyordular |
they weren't going |
|
|
Formation is: verb stem + present tense suffix [-iyor-] + past tense suffix [-di-] + personal ending. All these meanings are
witnessed. The must be construed as "true".
Turkish Indefinite Past Continuous Tense
|
Turkish Indefinite Past Continuous |
|
Positive |
bilmek |
Negative |
okumamak |
|
biliyormuşum [bil-iyor-muş-um] |
(it seems) I was knowing |
okumuyormuşum [okum-uyor-muşum] |
(it seems) I wasn't reading |
|
biliyormuşsun |
you were knowing |
okumuyormuşsun |
you weren't reading |
|
(o) biliyormuş |
he/she/it was knowing |
(o) okumuyormuş |
he/she/it wasn't reading |
|
biliyormuşuz |
we were knowing |
okumuyormuşuz |
we weren't reading |
|
biliyormuşsunuz |
you were knowing |
okumuyormuşsunuz |
you weren't reading |
|
|
Formation is: verb stem + present tense suffix [-iyor-] + past tense suffix [-miş-] + personal ending. All the meanings must
be construed as "hearsay". They may or may not be true.
|
|
|
|
|
biliyorlarmış
or geliyormuşlar |
they were knowing |
okumuyorlarmış
or okumuyormuşlar |
they weren't reading |
Examples of Indefinite Past/Present Continuous Tense Negative (Hearsay)
anlamamak to not understand
anlamıyormuşum it seem that I was not understanding anlamıyormuşsun it seem that you were not understanding anlamıyormuş it seem that he was not understanding anlamıyormuşuz it seem that we were not understanding anlamıyormuşsunuz it seem that you were not understanding anlamıyorlarmış it seem that they were not understanding
gitmemek not to go
gitmiyormuşum presumably I was not going gitmiyormuşsun apparently you were not going gitmiyormuş it seems he is not going gitmiyormuşuz possibly we are not going gitmiyormuşsunuz it seems you are not going gitmiyorlarmış apparently they are not going
Turkish Past Continuous Tense Interrogative Positive
Was I going?, Were you crying?, Was he waiting?, Were we arranging?, Were you saying?, Wre they selling?
The verb stem is suffixed with
-iyor plus he past tense personalised question tags which are written separately. The third person plural is suffixed with
-iyorlar
- Positive Interrogative Examples:
- bekliyor muydum? Was I waiting?
- gidiyor muydum? Was I going?
Turkish Past Continuous Tense Interrogative Negative
The past tense question tags are written separately.
- Negative Interrogative Example:
- gitmiyor muydum? Wasn't I going?
- ağlamıyor muydun? Weren't you crying?
- beklemiyor muydu? Weren't you waiting?
- toplamıyor muyduk? Weren't we arranging?
- söylemiyor muydunuz? Weren't you saying?
- satmıyorlar mıydı? Weren't they selling?
|
Definite -di and Indefinite -miş Past Tense Examples |
|
Turkish |
English |
Positive Definite |
Positive Indefinite |
Negative Definite |
Negative Indefinite |
|
almak |
to take |
aldı |
almış |
almadı |
almamış |
|
aramak |
to look for |
aradı |
aramış |
aramadı |
aramamış |
|
bitmek |
to end |
bitti |
bitmiş |
bitmedi |
bitmemiş |
|
içmek |
to drink/smoke |
içti |
içmiş |
içmedi |
içmemiş |
|
başlamak |
to start |
başladı |
başlamış |
başlamadı |
başlamamış |
|
çalışmak |
to work |
çalıştı |
çalışmış |
çalışmadı |
çalışmamış |
|
gelmek |
to come |
geldi |
gelmiş |
gelmedi |
gelmemiş |
|
görmek |
to see |
gördü |
görmüş |
görmedi |
görmemiş |
|
gülmek |
to laugh |
güldü |
gülmüş |
gülmedi |
gülmemiş |
|
kızmak |
to get angry |
kızdı |
kızmış |
kızmadı |
kızmamış |
|
okumak |
to read |
okudu |
okumuş |
okumadı |
okumamış |
|
vermek |
to give |
verdi |
vermiş |
vermedi |
vermemiş |
|
yapmak |
to do/make |
yaptı |
yapmış |
yapmadı |
yapmamış |
Examples of Questions in the Definite Past Tenses
Note that the
mi? question particle follows the full verb in the Past Tense.
Okula gittin mi? Did you go to school? [Eng: Have you been to school?]
Okula gitmeli miydin? Did you have go to school? [Eng: Did you have to go to school?]
Ayşe ders çalıştı mı? Has Ayshe done her lesson?
Mehmet televizyon seyrediyor muydu? Was Mehmet watching television? Mehmet televizyonu seyrediyor muydu? Was Mehmet watching THE television? Kemal gazete okudu mu? Did Kemal read a newspaper? [unspecified object]
Kemal gazeteyi okudu mu? Did Kemal read THE newspaper? [specified object]
Kemal bu gazeteyi okudu mu? Did Kemal read THIS newspaper? [demonstrated specific object]
Serhan içki içti mi? Did Serhan drink alcohol? [
içki =
alcoholic drink]
Serhan içki içiyor muydu? Was Serhan drinking alcohol?
Faruk Ankara'ya gitti mi? Has Faruk gone Ankara?
Faruk Ankara'ya gidebildi mi? Was Faruk able to go Ankara?
Turkish Past Definite Perfect Tense Conjugation "I had written"
The Past Perfect Definite is formed by adding the Definite past tense suffix to the Past Tense
-miş form of the verb. There is no hearsay or doubt in the meaning of this tense as it is made definite and specific by the addition of the past definite suffix in
-di. This tense signifies the definite Past in The Past.
"I had done it."
- gelmiştim [gelmiş-tim] I had come
- unutmuştun [unutmuş-tun] you had forgotten
- yürümüştü [yürümüş-tü] he had walked
- bilmiştik [bilmiş-tik] we had known
- çıkmıştınız [çıkmış-tınız] you had gone out
- anlamıştılar [anlamış-tılar] they had understood
Turkish Past Indefinite Perfect Tense Conjugation
The Past Perfect Indefinite is formed by adding the indefinite past tense suffix
-miş to the past tense
-miş form of the verb. There is hearsay or doubt in the meaning of this tense as it is made indefinite and unspecific by the addition of the past indefinite suffix in
-miş. This tense signifies the indefinite Past in The Past.
"(I thought) I had done it."
- gelmişmışım [gelmiş-mişim] I had come (apparently)
- unutmuşmuşsun [unutmuş-muşsun] you had forgotten (apparently)
- yürümüşmüs [yürümüş-muş] he had walked (apparently)
- bilmişmişiz [bilmiş-mişiz] we had known (apparently)
- çıkmışmışsınız [çıkmış-mışsınız] you had gone out (apparently)
- anlamışmışlar [anlamış-mışlar] they had understood (apparently)
The Turkish indefinite past perfect IS USED in daily conversation. It is also used for sarcasm as in English: "You just had to be rude to your teacher yesterday! (apparently)"
"He had to leave his wife and kids for another floozie! (it seems)"
|
Turkish Past Perfect Tense Conjugation |
|
Definite Indefinite |
|
gelmiştim [gelmiş-tim] |
I had come |
gelmişmişim [gelmiş-mişim] |
I had come |
|
unutmuştun [unutmuş- tun] |
you had forgotten |
unutmuşmuşsun [unutmuş- muşsun] |
you had forgotten |
|
yürümüştü [yürümüş-tü] |
he had walked |
yürümüşmüş [yürümüş-müş] |
he had walked |
|
bilmiştik [bilmiş-tik] |
we had known |
bilmişmişiz [bilmiş-mişiz] |
we had known |
|
çıkmıştınız [çıkmış-tınız] |
you had gone out |
çıkmışmışsınız [çıkmış-mışsınız |
you had gone out |
|
anlamıştılar [anlamış-tılar] |
they had understood |
anlamışmışlar [anlamış-mışlar] |
they had understood |