Modal verbs in english and modal allomorphs in turkish, yuksel goknel (revised and colored) 2014

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1900
MODAL VERBS
IN ENGLISH AND
MODAL
ALLOMORPHS
IN TURKISH
Yüksel Göknel
Y G O K N E L @ O U T L O O K . C O M

MODAL VERBS IN ENGLISH AND MODAL ALLOMORPHS IN TURKISH
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MODAL VERBS IN ENGLISH AND CORRESPONDING MODAL
ALLOMORPHS IN TURKISH
In English, auxiliary verbs are of two kinds: helping verbs and modal verbs.
Helping verbs may be used before or after action verbs when they are
changed into negative and interrogative forms, such as: “am, is, are, was,
were”, “do, does, did”, “have, has, had”, “have been, has been, had been,
will have been”. The helping verbs are also used as linking verbs, such as
“am, is, are, was, were, have been, has been, had been, will have been”,
which are also used to change the liking verbs into interrogative and ne-
gative forms.
1. Some auxiliary verbs are used before or after main verbs to change the
verb phrases into interrogative forms, and they are also used to change
positive verb phrases into negative forms together with the adverb “not”,
such as:
You like pop music. ↻ Do you like pop music?
You are a student. ↻ Are you a student?
You like pop music. ↻ You do not like pop music.
You are a student. ↻ You are not a student.
2. In addition to the auxiliary verbs above, there may be modal verbs that
come before main verbs, such as: must, can, could, may, might, need,
should, ought to, and had better. These model verbs add permission,
ability, obligation, prohibition, advice, lack of necessity or possibility to
main verbs. These modal verbs also change places to turn positive verb
phrases into interrogative sequences:
I can help you. ↻ Can I help you?
I must learn the modal verbs. ↻ Must I learn the modal verbs?
In Turkish, in place of the modal verbs above, there are modal allomorphs
that are attached to the main verbs. These allomorphs, contrary to the Eng-
lish auxiliary verbs, follow the main verbs in succession in Turkish, such as:
main verb + negation allomorph + modal allomorph + time allomorph +
subject allomorph.
Konuş + ma + ma,lı/y/ + dı + ım. (ko*nuş*ma*ma*lıy*dım)
I should not have spoken.
Note: The colors used in the sentences above and below demonstrate
the functions of the words or phrases, such as:

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1. Subjects and subject allomorphs are blue.
2. Objects are black.
3. Verbs are red.
4. Adverbs, prepositions and the “mi, mı, mü, mu” question
allomorphs and adverb clauses are underlined green.
5. Subject complements are brown.
6. Noun modifiers, possessive allomorphs and adjectives are purple.
English modal verbs and their corresponding Turkish modal allomorphs are
used both with action verbs and linking verbs in English and Turkish. Action
verbs are the verbs like “go”, “run”, “sleep”, and the like. But a linking verb
links the subject of a sentence to a complement, which gives information
about the subject. The verbs that are always used as linking verbs are as
follows:
Be, am, is, are, was, were, hasbeen, have been, had been, is being, are
being, will have been, can be, may be, must be, should be, become,
becomes, became, has become, have become, had become, will
become, will have become, seem, seems, seemed, will seem.
Some verbs in English are both linking verbs and action verbs, and some
others are helping verbs. A liking verb links an adjective, a noun or a state
to a subject, but an action verb describes an action. However, a helping
verb helps the main verb to express tense, mood and voice. These verbs
are (be): am, is, are, was, were, will be, have been, has been, etc. (do):
do, does, did. (have): have, has, had.
Some verbs that are used as both linking verbs and action verbs are as
follows:
Look, smell, sound, feel, taste, grow…
The corresponding Turkish allomorphs of the English verbs above are given
in the example sentences below. The complements of the linking verbs
may be adjectives (purple), adverbs (geen).or nouns (black). Action
verbs and helping verbs are red.
PRESENT MODAL ALLOMORPHS IN TURKISH
Main verb-[miş, mış, müş, muş]-[subject allomorph]
If the [miş, mış, müş, muş] allomorphs are used in present tenses they
express rumor, but if they are used in past tenses, they express past
perfect tense, such as:
Tembel-miş-im. They say that I am lazy. (Rumor)

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Türkçe bilmiyor-muş-um. They say that I do not know Turkish. (Rumor)
Yat-ma-dan önce ödev-im-i yap-mış-tı-ım. (Past perfect)
I had done my homework before I went to bed. (Past perfect)
In place of the adverb “not” of the English language, the negation allo-
morphs [me, ma] are used first attached to a main verbs in Turkish following
the vowel harmony rules. These negation allomorphs are used if the verb
sequences are negative, and then the other allomorphs such as a modal
allomorph, a time allomorph and finally a subject allomorph follow each
other in sequence.
Only one subject can be used in an English sentence. However, there may
be two subjects in a Turkish sentence; one in the beginning of a sentence
as a pronoun, and the other one at the end of the same sentence as a
compulsory subject allomorph carrying the same meaning of the pronoun
in the beginning. In a Turkish sentence, both a pronoun in the beginning
and a subject allomorph at the end of a sentence can be used. As the
subject allomorph carries the same meaning of the pronoun, the pronoun
can be ignored unless a speaker intentionally emphasizes it. Such as:
Ben Türkçe bil-me-iyor-um. (Grammatical)
Türkçe bil-me-iyor-um. (Grammatical)
Ben Türkçe bil-me-iyor. (Ungrammatical)
Ben sen-i sev-iyor-um. (Grammatical)
Sen-i sev-iyor-um. (Grammatical)
Ben sen-i sev-i-yor. (Ungrammatical)
The [miş, mış, müş, muş] allomorphs are followed by the subjet allo-
morphs: (ben) ♫ [im, ım, üm, um]; (sen) ♫ [/s/in, /s/in, sün, sun]; (o)
[Ø]; (biz) ♫ [iz, ız, üz, uz]; (siz) ♫ [/s/iniz, /s/iniz, /s/ünüz, /s/unuz]; (onlar)
[Ø] or ♫ [ler, lar].
Compare the Turkish with the English sentences to understand the differ-
rence:
O git-miş. “They say (that) he has gone” or “I am surprised to see (hear)
that he has gone”. They say (that) he went. I think (that) he has gone. He
says (that) he has gone. Somebody says (that) he has gone. He is said to
have gone. All these English sentences are expressed in the Turkish
sentence “O git-miş”. In such sentences the origin and the time of the
rumor is unknown, but inferred:
Sen sınav-ı geç-miş-/s/in. People say that you have passed the exami-
nation.

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İş-i/n/-den kov-muş-lar. People say or he himself says that they (have) fired him.
İş-i/n/-den kov-ul-muş. (ko*vul*muş) They say that he has been fired, or
was fired. (He himself says (that) he has been fired, or was fired.)
If one of the ♫ [dir, dır, dür, dur, tir, tır, tür, tur] allomorphs attaches to one
of the ends of a rumor sentences, the verb sequence gains the concepts of
“inferred possibility” or “inferred certainty“. Therefore, they are adverbial
allomorphs adding different concepts to main verbs. Consider the following:
Positive:
Bu film-i gör-müş-/s/ün-dür.
(bu / fil*mi / gör*müş*sün*dür)
You are likely to have seen this film. (Perhaps you saw this film.)
You must have seen this film. (Certainty) (You certainly saw this film.)
Zil çal-mış-tır. (Possibility or certainty)
(zil / çal*mış*tır)
The bell must (may) have rung.
Anne-em ev-den çık-mış-tir bile. (Certainty)
(an*nem / ev*den / çık*mış*tır / bi*le)
Mother must have already left home.
Yeni ders-i öğren-miş-/s/iniz-dir. (Possibility or certainty)
(ye*ni / der*si / öğ*ren*miş*si*niz*dir)
You may or must have learned the new lesson.
Ben-i anla-mış-/s/in-dır. (Possibility or certainty)
(be*ni / an*la*mış*/s/in*dır)
You must (may) have understood me.
Ben-i anla-mış-/s/in-dır. (Certainty)
(be*ni / an*la*mış*sın*dır)
You must have understood me.
Otobüs geç kal-mış ol-malı. (“Geç kalmış” is subject complement.)
(o*to*büs / geç / kal*mış / ol*ma*lı )
The bus must have been late.
Program-ı iptal et-miş-ler-dir. (Possibility or certainty)
(prog*ra*mı / ip*ta:l / et*miş*ler*dir)
They must (may) have canceled the program.

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Onu yanlış anla-mış-ım-dır. (Possibility or certainty)
(o*nu / yan*lış / an*la*mı*şım*dır)
I must (may) have misunderstood it.
Onu gör-me-miş-/s/in-dir. (Negative possibility)
(o*nu / gör*me*miş*/s/in*dir)
You may not have seen him.
Onu gör-müş ol-amaz-/s/in. (“Görmüş” is subject complement in Turkish)
(o*nu / gör*müş / o*la*maz*sın) (Negative)
You cannot have seen her. (Negative possibility)
Yılan-ı öldür-müş-ler-dir. (Certainty)
(yı*la*nı / öl*dür*müş*ler*dir)
They must have killed the snake.
İş-i/n/-den kovul-muş-tur. (Passive)
(i*şin*den / ko*vul*muş*tur)
He must (may) have been fired.
Negative:
Çalış-ma-/y/a başla-ma-mış bile. (“Başla” is intransitive.)
(ça*lış*ma*/y/a / baş*la*ma*mış / bi*le )
They say he hasn’t started work-ing yet. (“Start” is transitive.)
Sınav-ı geç-me-miş-/s/in.
(sı*na*vı / geç*me*miş*/s/in)
They say you didn’t pass, or haven’t passed the examination.
Oğul-un dün okul-a git-me-miş.
(oğ*lun / dün / o*ku*la / git*me*miş)
They say, or I heard that your son didn’t go to school yesterday.
Mektup-u at-ma-mış.
(mek*tu*bu / at*ma*mış)
I heard that he hadn't posted the letter.
Teklif-i kabul et-me-miş-ler.
(tek*li:*fi / ka*bû:I / et*me*miş*ler)
I heard that they hadn’t accepted the proposal.
Ben-im oğul-um dün okul-a git-me-miş.
(be*nim / oğ*lum / dün / o*ku*la / git*me*miş)
I heard that my son didn’t go to school yesterday.
This type of verb phrase is also used to express surprise:

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Kedi papağan-ım-ı ye-miş!
(ke*di / pa*pa*ğa*nı*mı / ye*miş↝)
The cat has eaten up my parrot! (Astonishment and anger)
Kek yan-mış!
(kek / yan*mış↝)
The cake has been burned (burnt)! (Astonishment)
Positive question:
The [mi, mı, mü, mu] question allomorphs are separately used followed by
subject allomorphs in Turkish. On the other hand, as there are no interro-
gative allomorphs in English, the auxiliary or the modal allomorphs change
places with the subjects in a verb sequence to obtain an interrogative verb
sequence.
Please consider the example sentences carefully:
Ben: [mi-/y/im, mı-/y/ım, mü-/y/üm, mu-/y/um]; Sen: [mi-/s/in, mı-/s/in,
mü-/s/ün, mu-/s/un]; O: [mi, mı, mü, mu]; Biz: [mi-/y/iz, mı-/y/ız, mü-
/y/üz, mu-/y/uz]; Siz: [mi-/s/iniz, mı-/s/iniz, mü-/s/ünüz, mu-/s/unuz] and
Onlar: [ler mi, lar mı] words are separately used in accordance with the
vowel harmony rules.
Oğul-un dün maç-a git-miş mi?
(oğ*lun / dün / ma*ça / git*miş / mi)
Tell me whether your son went to the football match yesterday.
Kapı-/y/ı kilitle-miş mi-/y/im?
(ka*pı*yı / ki*lit*le*miş / mi*yim)
Tell me whether I have locked the door.
(The /y/ glides are inserted between the successive vowels.)
Yenilmiş-ler mi? (Passive) (Astonishment)
(ye*nil*miş*ler↝ / mi↝)
Have they been beaten?
Araba-am tamir etil-miş mi? (Passive)
(a*ra*bam / ta:*mir / e*dil*miş / mi)
Do they say that my car has been repaired?
Negative question:
In negative questions, the ♫ [me, ma] negation allomorphs are attached to
main verbs:

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Kapı-/y/ı kilitle-me-miş-ler mi?! (I’m shocked to hear that)
(ka*pı*yı / ki*lit*le↝*me*miş*ler / mi↝)
Didn't they lock the door?
Ben-i gör-me-miş mi? (I can't believe!)
(be*ni / gör↝*me*miş / mi↝)
Does he say that he didn't see me?
Ev ödev-i-/n/i yap-ma-mış mı? (Anger and astonishment)
(ev / ö*de*vi*ni / yap↝*ma*mış / mı↝)
Does he say that he hasn't done his homework?
Daha kalk-ma-mış mı? (Surprise) (How lazy he is!)
(da*ha / kalk↝*ma*mış / mı↝)
Do you say that he hasn’t got up yet?
Oğul-un Türkçe bil-me-iyor mu/y/-muş? (I am surprised to hear that.)
(oğ*lun / türk*çe / bil↝*mi*yor / muy*muş↝)
Do you say that your son doesn’t know Turkish?
Ben-i tanı-ma-ıyor mu/y/-muş? Unbelievable! Ridiculous!
(be*ni / ta*nı↝*mı*yor / muy*muş↝)
Does he say that he doesn’t know me?
Main verb-[ebil, abil]-[ir]-[subject allomorph]
(can) (may)
While English modals are made of auxiliary verbs, Turkish modals are made
either of morphemes, or of words, or of both. They convey nearly the same
concepts as they do in English. Therefore, instead of giving detailed boring
explanations of the Turkish modal allomorphs, we prefer giving English
equivalents of them, which we think, might be more helpful. Moreover, the
English sentences given as the equivalents of the Turkish modals can be
considered more satisfactory and precise than detailed English explanations
of them, which may lead to misunderstanding.
The ♫ [ebil, abil] allomorphs convey ability, possibility or permission as
“can” do in English. To form the Simple Present Tense concept of this mod-
al morpheme, one of its allomorphs "[ebil] or [abil]" is attached to a main
verb followed only by [ir] Simple Present Tense time allomorph. The other
Simple Present Tense allomorphs are not used after [ebil] or [abil]
allomorphs due to the vowel harmony rules. The time allomorphs are
naturally followed by suitable subject allomorphs.

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Positive:
Yemek pişir-ebil-ir-im. (Ability)
(ye*mek / pi*şi*re*bi*li*rim)
I can cook.
Bilgisayar-ım-ı kullan-abil-ir-/s/in. (Permission)
(bil*gi*sa*ya*rı*mı / kul*la*na*bi*lir*/s/in)
You can use my computer.
Bazı soru-lar zor ol-abil-ir. (“Zor” is subject complement)
(ba*zı / so*ru*lar / zor / o*la*bi*lir)
Some questions may be difficult. (“difficult” is subject complement)
Siz-e yardım et-ebil-ir-iz. (Ability or possibility) (The /t/ changes into /d/.)
(si*ze / yar*dım / e*de*bi*li*riz)
We can help you.
Dışarı-/y/a çık-abil-ir-/s/in. (Permission)
(dı*şa*rı*ya / çı*ka*bi*lir*/s/in)
You can go out.
To change the ♫ [ebil, abil] allomorphs into the negative concept, with the
first person singular and plural “eme, ama”, and with the others “emez,
amaz” allomorphs are used.
Negative:
Piyano çal-ama-am. (Inability)
(pi*ya*no / ça*la*mam).
I can’t play the piano.
Bu küçük harfler-i gözlük-süz gör-eme-em. (Inability)
(bu / kü*çük / harf*le*ri / göz*lük*süz / gö*re*mem).
I can’t see these small letters without glasses.
Bekle-/y/eme-em. (bek*le*ye*mem)
I can’t wait. (Impossibility and inability)
In the sentences above, the /y/ glides are put between the successive “e-e”
vowels to maintain the harmonic balance. (Impossibility)
Bu leke sabun-la temizlen-emez.
(bu / le*ke / sa*bun*la / te*miz*le*ne*mez)
This stain can’t be cleaned with soap. (Impossibility) (Passive)

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Bura-da bekle-/y/emez-/s/in. (Prohibition)
(bur*da / bek*le*ye*mez*/s/in)
You can’t wait here.
Bakteriler çıplak göz-le görül-emez. (Impossibility, passive)
(bak*te*ri*ler / çıp*lak / göz*le / gö*rü*le*mez)
Germs can’t be seen with the naked eye.
Yarın sen-i gör-eme-em. (Impossibility)
(ya*rın / se*ni / gö*re*mem)
I can’t see you tomorrow.
Ev-de ol-amaz. (“Ev-de” is subject complement) (Impossibility)
(ev*de / o*la*maz)
He can’t be at home. (“At home” is subject complement.)
Çocuklar bahçe-de oyna-uyor ol-amaz.
(ço*cuk*lar / bah*çe*de / oy*nu*yor / o*la*maz)
The children can’t be playing in the garden. (Impossibility)
The same [ebil] modal concept can also be used with The Present Contin-
uous [İYOR] morpheme. In order to form this modal sequence, [ebil] or [abil]
allomorphs are attached to main verbs followed by the [iyor] and the
subject allomorphs:
Kara tahta-/y/ı gör-ebil-iyor-um. (Ability)
(ka*ra / tah*ta*yı / gö*re*bi*li*yo*rum)
I can see the blackboard.
The Simple Present Tense of this modal form does not express ability. If it
is used, it expresses possibility:
Sen-i yarın gör-ebil-ir-im. (Possibility)
(se*ni / ya*rın / gö*re*bi*li*rim)
I can see you tomorrow.
Kenar-a çekilir-se-en karatahta-/y/ı gör-ebil-ir-im. (Possibility)
(ke*na*ra / çe*ki*lir*sen / ka*ra*tah*ta*yı / gö*re*bi*li*rim)
If you move aside, I can see the blackboard.
In the negative forms of The Present Continuous modal tenses, the [eme] or
[ama] negation allomorphs are used followed by the [iyor, ıyor] progressive
allomorphs and naturally suitable subject allomorphs are attached to them:

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Sen-i anla-/y/ama-ıyor-um.
(se*ni / an*la*ya*mı*yo*rum)
I can’t understand you.
The /y/ glide is placed between the successive /a/ vowels. (Inability) (“Seni
anlayamam” is impossible here. It can be used in conditional sentences):
Daha yüksek ses-le konuş-maz-sa-an sen-i anal-/y/ama-am.
(da*ha / yük*sek / ses*le / ko*nuş*maz*san / se*ni / an*la*ya*mam)
I can't understand you unless you speak louder.
Sen-i işit-eme-iyor-um.
(se*ni / i*şi*te*mi*yo*rum)
I can’t hear you.
(The double underlined /e/ drops as it is in “şimdi zaman”)
Bekle-/y/eme-iyor-um.(Inability)
(bek*le*ye*mi*yo*rum)
I can’t wait.
Bekle-/y/eme-em. It is impossible for me to wait. (Impossibility)
(bek*le*ye*mem)
I can’t wait.
Sen-i gör-eme-iyor-um. (Inability)
(se*ni / gö*re*mi*yo*rum)
I can’t see you.
Söyle-dik-ler-in anlaşıl-ma-ıyor. (Passive)
(söy*le*dik*le*rin / an*la*şıl*mı*yor)
What you are saying isn't unerstood.
Positive question:
The [ebil, abil] modal allomorphs followed by the allomorphs of the mor-
pheme [İYOR] are used attached to verbs in question forms, and finally
“mu-/y/um, mu-/s/un, mu, mu-/y/uz, mu-/s/unuz, lar mı, etc” are
separately added:
Gözlük-süz televizyon seyret-ebil-iyor mu-/s/unuz?
(göz*lük*süz / te*le*viz*yon / sey*re*de*bi*li* yor / mu*su*nuz)
Can you watch television without glasses?
(The /t/ changes into /d/) (Ability)
When the intention of request is involved, The Simple Present Tense
allomorphs of [İR] are used after [ebil or abil] allomorphs, and finally, “mi-

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/y/im?”, “mi-/s/in?”, “mi?”, “mi-/y/iz?”, “mi-/s/iniz?”, “ler mi?” question
words are separately written:
Bana yardım et-ebil-ir mi-/s/iniz? (Request) (“Yardım et” is intransitive.)
(ba*na / yar*dım / e*de*bi*lir ↝ / mi*si*niz)
Can you help me? (“Help” is transitive.)
Siz-e yardım et-ebil-ir mi-/y/im? (Request)
(si*ze / yar*dım / e*de*bi*lir ↝ / mi*yim)
Can I help you?
Ben-i gör-mek için yarın büro-um-a gel-ebil-ir mi-/s/iniz)? (Request)
(be*ni / gör*mek / i*çin / ya*rın / bü*ro*ma / ge*le*bi*lir↝ / mi*si*niz)
Can (could) you come to my office to see me tomorrow?
The Turkish equivalents of the “wh” question words of English can also be
used with [ebil], [abil] allomorphs:
Bu soru-/y/a kim cevap ver-ebil-ir? (Ability)
(bu / so*ru*ya / kim ↝/ ce*vap / ve*re*bi*lir↝)
Who can answer this question?
Nere-de öğle yemek-i ye-/y/ebil-ir-iz? (possibility)
(ner↝*de / öğ*le / ye*me*ği / yi*ye*bi*li*riz↝)
Where can we have lunch? (*"Nerede öğle yemeği yiyebiliyoruz?" is not
used in Turkish.)
Nasıl başar-abil-ir-im?
(na ↝*sıl / ba*şa*ra*bi*li*rim↝)
How can I succeed?
Main verb-[meli, malı]-[subject allomorph]
must
This morpheme has two allomorphs; [meli] and [malı], which can be at-
tached to verb roots, stems or frames followed by subject allomorphs.
However, when it is used with the verb "be”, it conveys the concepts of
certainty or probability, but when it is used with action verbs like “go”,
“write”, “do”, “help”, etc., it implies obligation imposed by the speaker.
Positive:
Sınavlar-da başarılı ol-mak için daha çok çalış-malı-/s/in.
(sı*nav*lar*da / ba*şa*rı*lı / ol*mak / i*çin / çok / ça*lış*ma*lı*/s/in)
You must study harder to succeed in the examinations.
(Strong advice or obligation imposed by the speaker)

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Anne-en-e ev işler-i/n/-de yardım et-meli-/s/in. (The verb is intransitive.)
(an*ne*ne / ev / iş*le*rin*de / yar*dım / et*me*li*/s/in)
You must help your mother with the housework. (The verb is transitive.)
(Obligation imposed by the speaker or strong advice)
Ev ödev-im-i bitir-mek için geç vakit-e kadar otur-malı-/y/ım.
(e*vö*de*vi*mi / bi*tir*mek / i*çin / geç / vak*te / ka*dar / o*tur*ma*lı*/y/ım)
I must sit up late to finish my homework. (Internal obligation)
Sürücüler trafik kurallar-ı-/n/a uy-malı-dır. (The verb “uy” is intransitive.)
(sü*rü*cü*ler / tra*fik / ku*ral*la*rı*na / uy*ma*lı*dır)
Drivers must obey the traffic rules. (The verb “obey” is transitive.)
Yorgun ol-malı-/s/in. (“Yorgun” is subject complement.) (Adjective)
(yor*gun / ol*ma*lı*/s/in)
You must be tired. (“Tired” is subject complement.) (Adjective)
Sabah-leyin erken kalk-ıl-malı. (Passive shaped intransitive)
(sa*bah*le*yin / er*ken / kal*kıl*ma*lı)
It is necessary to get up early in the morning. (“to get up” is an infinitive)
Önemli evraklar kasa-da saklan-malı. (Passive)
(ö*nem*li / ev*rak*lar / ka*sa*da / sak*lan*ma*lı)
Important documents must be kept in a safe.
Anne- en öfkeli ol-malı. (“Öfkeli” is subject complement.)
(an*nen / öf*ke*li / ol*ma*lı)
Your mother must be angry. (Very probability or certainty)
Matematik sıkıcı ol-malı. (“Sıkıcı” is subject complement.)
(ma*te*ma*tik / sı*kı*cı / ol*ma*lı)
Mathematics must be boring. (“Boring” is subject complement)
The negative form of [meli, malı] is [me-meli, ma-malı] (must not), which
conveys the concept of prohibition.
Negative:
Ben-im-le böyle konuş-ma-malı-/s/ın.
(be*nim*le / böy*le / ko*nuş*ma*ma*lı*sın)
You mustn’t (can’t) talk to me like that. (Prohibition)
Kız kardeş-in-in ödev yap-ma-/s/ı-/n/ı engelle-me-meli-/s/in.
(kız / kar*de*şi*nin / ö*dev / yap*ma*sı*nı / en*gel*le*me*me*li*/s/in)
You mustn’t prevent your sister from do-ing her homework. (Prohibition)

14
Bir öğrenci televizyon izle-/y/erek zaman-ı-/n/ı boşa harca-ma-malı-dır.
(bir / öğ*ren*ci ~/ te*le*viz*yon / iz*le*ye*rek ~/ za*ma:*nı*nı / bo*şa / har*-
ca*ma*ma*lı*dır) A student mustn’t waste time watch-ing television.
Another negative form of [ol-malı] (must be) is “ol-amaz” (can’t be). This
form is used with modal linking verbs “must be” and “can’t be”, which are
modified by adjectives or adverbs to produce subject complements:
Oğul-um sinema-da ol-amaz; okul-da ol-malı. (“sinema-da” and “okul-
da” are subject complements.)
My son can’t be at the cinema; he must be at school. (Impossibility; certainty)
Matematik ilginç ol-amaz; sıkıcı ol-malı. (“ilginç” and “sıkıcı” are subj com-
plements. (ma*te*ma*tik / il*ginç / o*la*maz ↷ / sı*kı*cı / ol*ma*lı)
Mathematics can’t be interesting; it must be boring. (Impossibility; certainty)
Mehmet hasta ol-amaz; rol yap-ıyor ol-malı.
(meh*met / has*ta / o*la*maz ↷ / rol / ya*pı*yor / ol*ma*lı)
Mehmet can’t be ill; he must be pretending. (İmpossibility; certainty)
Jack ders çalış-ıyor ol-amaz, futbol oyna-uyor ol-malı.
(jack / ders / ça*lı*şı*yor / o*la*maz↷/ fut*bol / oy*nu*yor / ol*ma*lı)
Jack can’t be studying; he must be playing football.
Kardeş-in ciddi ol-amaz; şaka yapıyor ol-malı.
(kar*de*şin / cid*di: / o*la*maz ↷ / şa*ka / ya*pı*yor / ol*ma*lı)
Your brother can’t be serious; he must be joking.
Bu hediye ben-im için ol-amaz; siz-in için ol-malı.
(bu / he*di*ye / be*nim / i*çin / o*la*maz ↷ / si*zin / i*çin / ol*ma*lı)
This present can’t be for me; it must be for you.
Ciddî ol-amaz; rol yapıyor ol-amaz mı?
(cid*dî: / o*la*maz ↷ / rol / ya*pı*yor / o*la*maz / mı)
He can’t be serious. Can't he be pretending?
Bu portre gerçek ol-amaz; kopya ol-malı.
(bu / por*tre / ger*çek / o*la*maz ↷ / kop*ya / ol*ma*lı)
This portrait can’t be genuine; it must be a reproduction.
Positive question:
In “yes, no” positive and negative interrogative sentences, the allomorphs of
“mi-/y/im?”, “mı-/y/ım?; “mi-/s/in?”, “mı-/s/in?”; “mi?”, “mı?”; “mi-

15
/y/ız?”, “mı-/y/ız?”; “mi-/s/iniz?”, “mı-/s/ınız?”; “mi?”, “mı?” words are
separately used. For instance:
Bitir-meli mi-/y/im?
(bi*tir*me*li / mi*yim)
Must I finish?
Al-malı mı-/y/ım?
(al*ma*lı / mı*yım)
Must I buy?
Ertele-meli mi-/s/in?
(er*te*le*me*li / mi*/s/in)
Must you postpone?
Sakla-malı mı-/s/ın?
(sak*la*ma*lı / mı*/s/in)
Must you hide?
İç-meli mi?
(iç*me*li / mi)
Must he drink?
Dur-malı mı?
(dur*ma*lı / mı)
Must he stop?
Öğren-meli mi-/y/iz?
(öğ*ren*me*li / mi*yiz)
Must we learn?
Unut-malı mı-/y/ız?
(u*nut*ma*lı / mı*yız)
Must we forget?
Destekle-meli mi-/s/iniz?
(des*tek*le*me*li / mi*si*niz)
Must you support?
Bitir-meli-ler mi?
(bi*tir*me*li*ler / mi)
Must they finish?
Oku-malı-lar mı?
(o*ku*ma*lı*lar / mı)
Must they read?

16
Negative question:
In negative interrogative sentences, either [me] or [ma] negation allomorphs
are followed by [meli] or [malı] allomorphs, and finally “mi-/y/im?”, “mi-
/s/in?” words are separately added. Follow the examples:
Git-me-meli mi-/s/in?
(git*me*me*li / mı*/s/in)
Mustn’t you go?
Paylaş-ma-malı mı-/s/ın?
(pay*laş*ma*ma*lı / mı*/s/in)
Must you not share?
Yardım et-me-meli mi-/y/iz?
(yar*dım / et*me*me*li / mi*yiz)
Mustn’t we help?
Main verb-[mek, mak] + zorunda-[subject allomorph]
have
This modal form expresses obligation imposed by an external authority or
circumstances:
İş-e git-mek için her sabah saat altı-da kalk-mak zorunda-/y/ım.
(i*şe / git*mek / i*çin / her / sa*bah / sa*at / al*tı*da / kalk*mak / zo*run*-
da*yım ) I have to get up at six o’clock every morning to go to work.
Note: In English, the verb “have” is a transitive verb because it may take
an object, such as “a car”: I have a car. However, if it is followed by the
preposition “to” (have to), it is considered as a modal verb because it
expresses external obligation. When we describe it according to its meaning,
this explanation is true. On the other hand, if we put the preposition “to”
before the verb root “work”, we produce another nominal “to work”. So, we
can see that the verb “have” may be followed either by a noun “a car”, or
either by an infinitive “to work”, which is also a noun. Therefore we can say
that the verb “have” expresses both obligation and possession as “can”
expresses both permission and ability.
Patron-la konuş.urken dikkatli ol-mak zorunda-/s/in.
(pat*ron*la / ko*nu*şur*ken / dik*kat*li / ol*mak / zo*run*da*/s/in)
You have to be careful when you are talking to the boss.
Bu yazı-/y/ı dikkat-le yaz-mak zorunda-/y/ım.
(bu / ya*zı*yı / dik*kat*le / ya*mak / zo*run*da*yım)
I have to write this text carefully

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Oda-am-ı tertiple-mek zorunda-/y/ım.
(o*da*mı / ter*tip*le*mek / zo*run*da*yım)
I have to tidy my room.
Bu cümleler-i öğren-mek zorunda mı-/y/ım?
(bu / cüm*le*le*ri / öğ*ren*mek / zo*run*da / mı*yım)
Do I have to learn these sentences?
Bitir-mek zorunda değil mi-/y/im?
(bi*tir*mek / zo*run*da / de*ğil / mi*yim)
Don’t I have to finish?
Main verb-[me-/y/e, ma-/y/a]-bil-ir-[subject allomorph]
needn’t
Lack of necessity “needn’t” is expressed in Turkish with the verb phrase
above:
Okul-a git-me-/y/ebil-ir-im.
(o*ku*la / git*me*ye*bi*li*rim)
I needn’t go to school. (Lack of necessity)
Şimdi başla-ma-/y/abil-ir-iz.
(şim*di / baş*la*ma*ya*bi*li*riz)
We needn’t start now. (Lack of necessity)
Sabah-leyin erken kalk-ma-/y/abil-ir-im.
(sa*bah*le*yin / er*ken / kalk*ma*ya*bi*li*rim)
I needn’t get up early in the morning. (Lack of necessity)
Bugün büro temizlen-me-/y/ebil-ir. (Passive) (Lack of necessity)
(bu / gün / bü*ro / te*miz*len*me*ye*bi*lir)
The office needn’t be cleaned today.
One can use the verb “have” in place of “need” in interrogative sentences:
Toplantı-/y/ı ertele-mek zorunda mı-/s/in?
(top*lan*tı*yı / er*te*le*mek / zo*run*da / mı*/s/in)
Do you have to postpone the meeting?
Ev ödev-in-i yap-mak zorunda değil mi-/s/in?
(ev / ö*de*vi*ni / yap*mak / zo*run*da / de*ğil / mi*/s/in)
Don’t you have to do your homework?
“Gitmesem de olur”, “başlamasak da olur”, “kalkmasam da olur”, "kalkmama
gerek yok", "gelmene gerek yok" expressions can also be used as alter-
natives to the sentences above:

18
Sabah-leyin erken kalk-ma-sa-am da ol-ur.
(sa*bah*le*yin / er*ken / kalk*ma*sam / da / o*lur)
I needn't get up early in the morning. (Lack of necessity)
When a question is asked with [meli, malı], the answer to this question may
be as follows:
“Konser-e git-meli mi-/y/im?” “Git-me-se-en de ol-ur.” “Git-me-/y/ebil-ir-/s/in.”
“Must I go to the concert?” “No, you needn’t."
noun compound + gerek-ir
“should” or “ought to” (advice)
In the possessive parts of the noun compounds above, the possessive
pronouns are used, such as: “ben-im” (be*nim), “sen-in” (se*nin), “o-/n/un”
(o*nun), “biz-im” (bi*zim), “siz-in” (si*zin), “onlar-ın” (on*la*rın).
In the owned parts of the noun compounds, “verb-[me, ma]-pers” words are
used followed by the word “gerek-ir”. The word “verb-[me,ma]” is an infini-
tive, which completes the second part of the noun compound.
The personal possessive allomorphs attached to the infinitive parts of the
“noun + infinitive” compounds are in the following list:
ben-im bekle-me-em, koş-ma-am (be*nim / bek*le*mem) (koş*mam)
sen-in bekle-me-en, koş-ma-an (se*nin / bek*le*men) (koş*man)
o-/n/un bekle-me-/s/i, koş-ma-/s/ı (o*nun / bek*le*me*si) (koş*ma*sı)
biz-im bekle-me-emiz, koş-ma-amız (bi*zim / bek*le*me*miz)(koş*ma*mız)
siz-in bekle-me-eniz, koş-ma-anız (si*zin / bek*le*me*niz) (koş*ma*nız)
onlar-ın bekle-me-/s/i, koş-ma-/s/ı (on*la*rın / bek*le*me*si) (koş*ma*sı)
Finally, after the above “possessive pronoun + infinitive-pers” noun com-
pounds, “gerek-ir” is used as a separate word:
Daha çok çalış-ma-an gerek-ir.
noun compound |
subject (subject complement) predicate
(da*ha / çok / ça*lış*man / ge*re*kir)
You should study harder. (Advice)
In the example sentence above optional “senin” is is not used , “senin çalış-
ma-an” is a “possessive + infinitive” compound, and “daha çok” is an
adverbial.

19
In this article, as you see, there are some consonants that are single un-
derlined, and there are some identical vowels following each other. As the
morphemic sequences and the oral sequences are different from each other
in Turkish, an oral sequence is given under every morphemic sequence in
the example sentences. As a rule, the sound system of the Turkish language
detach these underlined consonants from their morphemes, and attach them
to the following vowels, and the identical vowels following each other com-
bine and verbalize as a single vowel.
Öğrenciler yeni kelimeler-i ezberle-meli
subject definite object verb
The students should memorize the new words.
Baba-an-ın öğüt-ü-/n/ü iyi düşün-me-en gerek-ir.
(noun comp) object of düşün (noun comp) subject predicate
(ba*ba*nın / ö*ğü*dü*nü / i*yi / dü*şün*men / ge*re*kir)
You should think well about your father’s advice.
Sinav sonuçlar-ı-/n/ın beklen-me-/s/i gerek-ir.
(sı*nav / so*nuç*la*rı*nın / bek*len*me*si / ge*re*kir)
The examination results should be waited. (Passive)
The [me] or [ma] negation allomorphs are attached after main verbs which
are followed by the [me, ma] infinitive allomorphs to give a negative advice:
Çok para harca-ma-ma-an gerek-ir.
(çok / pa*ra / har*ca*ma*man / ge*re*kir)
You shouldn’t spend much money. = (Çok para harca-ma-malı-/s/in.)
Bir baba-/n/ın çocuk-lar-ı-/n/ı ihmâl et-me-me-/s/i gerek-ir.
(bir / ba*ba*nın / ço*cuk*la*rı*nı / ih*ma:l / et*me*me*si / ge*re*kir)
A father shouldn’t neglect his children.
Vergi öde-me-/n/in ertelen-me-me-/s/i gerek-ir.
(ver*gi / ö*de*me*nin / er*te*len*me*me*si / ge*re*kir)
Pay-ing tax shouldn’t be postponed.
In the sententence above, the /n/ glide is used between the first "e and i",
and the /s/ glide is used between the last "e and i" vowels.
“May” and “can” are both expressed in [ebil, abil] allomorphs in Turkish.
Therefore, they can be used with the question tag “mi” in questions. Com-
pare the following sentences:

20
Haber doğru ol-abil-ir. (“Doğru” and “true” are subject complements)
(ha*ber / doğ*ru / o*la*bi*lir)
The news may (can) be true.
Haber doğru ol-abil-ir mi?
(ha*ber / doğ*ru / o*la*bi*lir / mi)
Can the news be true?
Çocuk-lar ev-de ol-abil-ir.
(ço*cuk*lar / ev*de / o*la*bi*lir)
The children may (can) be at home.
Çocuklar ev-de ol-abil-ir mi?
(ço*cuk*lar / ev*de / o*la*bi*lir↝ / mi )
Can the children be at home?
Haklı ol-abil-ir-/s/in.
(hak*lı / o*la*bi*lir*/s/in)
You may (can) be right.
Haklı ol-amaz mı-/y/ım?
(hak*lı / o*la↝*maz / mi*yim)
Can't I be right?
Bekle-iyor ol-amaz-lar mı?
(bek*li*yor / o*la↝*maz*lar / mı)
Can't they be waiting?
Tercüme yanlış ol-abil-ir.
(ter*cü*me / yan*lış / o*la*bi*lir)
The translation may be incorrect.
PAST MODALS
Main verb-[ebil, abil]-[iyor]-[du]-[subject allomorph]
could
“Could” expresses ability in the past. To express the same concept in
Turkish, “main verb-[ebil, abil]-[iyor]-[du]-[subject allomorph]” verb
phrase should be used:
Yedi yaş-ım-da/y/-ken yüz-ebil-iyor-du-um.
(ye*di / ya*şım*day*ken / yü*ze*bi*li*yor*dum)
I could swim when I was seven years old. (Ability in the past)

21
Ahmet okul-a git-me-den önce oku-/y/up yaz-abil-iyor-du.
(ah*met / o*ku*la / git*me*den / ön*ce~ / o*ku*yup / ya*za*bi*li*yor*du)
Ahmet could read and write before he went to school.
The negative form of this modal “main verb-[eme, ama]-[iyor, ıyor]-[du]-
[subject allomorph]”, verb phrase is used, which expresses both the ne-
gative of "could" and "was able":
Ben okul-a git-me-den önce oku-/y/up yaz-ama-ıyor-du-um.
(ben / o*ku*la / git*me*den / ön*ce~ / o*ku*yup / ya*za*mı*yor*dum)
I couldn't read and write before I went to school.
İş-im-i bitir-eme-di-im.
(i*şi*mi / bi*ti*re*me*dim)
I couldn't finish my work.
I wasn't able to finish my work.
Yeni ders-i anla-/y/abil-di-in mi?
(ye*ni / der*si / an*la*ya*bil*din / mi)
Were you able to understand the new lesson?
Güçlükler-i aş-abil-di-iniz mi?
(güç*lük*le*ri / a*şa*bil*di*niz / mi)
Were you able to overcome the difficulties?
Tasarı-/y/ı bitir-ebil-di-iniz mi?
(ta*sa*rı*yı / bi*ti*re*bil*di*niz / mi)
Were you able to finish the project?
Kayıp çocuk-u bul-abil-di-ler mi?
(ka*yıp / ço*cu*ğu / bu*la*bil*di*ler / mi)
Were they able to find the lost child?
Main verb-[me-/y/i, ma-/y/ı] + başar-dı-[subject allomorph]
was (were) able
When a past success is implied, the verb “başar” is used in Turkish in
place of the “was able to”, the “succeeded in”, or the “managed to” ex-
pressions of the English language:
Sınav-da iyi bir not al-ma-/y/ı başar-dı-ım.
(sı*nav*da / i*yi / bir / not / al*ma*yı / ba*şar*dım)
I was able to get a good grade in the examination.

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Bizim takım, misafir takım-ı yen-me-/y/i başar-dı.
(bi*zim / ta*kım~ / mi*sa:*fir / ta*kı*mı / yen*me*yi / ba*şar*dı)
Our team succeeded in beating the visiting team.
İş-in-i bitir-me-/y/i başar-dı-ın mı? or “İş-in-i bitir-ebil-di-in mi?”
(i*şi*ni / bi*ti*re*bil*din / mi)
Were you able to complete your work?
As an alternative to the above sentences, “main verb-[ebil, abil]-[di]-[sub-
ject allomorph]” verb phrase could be used:
En son-u/n/-da iş-im-i bitir-ebil-di-im.
(en / so*nun*da / i*şi*mi / bi*ti*re*bil*dim)
I was able to finish my work at last.
“main verb-[eme, ama]-[di, dı]-[subject allomorph]” verb phrase can be
used in place of "couldn't”, “wasn't able” or “didn't succeed":
Maç-ı kazan-ama-dı-ık.
(ma*çı / ka*za*na*ma*dık)
We couldn't win the match.
Bu problem-i çöz-eme-di-im.
(bu / prob*le*mi / çö*ze*me*dim)
I couldn’t solve this problem.
As “could” is used in English conditional clauses, so can “main verb-[e-bil]-
[abil]-[ir]-[di]-[subject allomorph]” verb phrase be used in Turkish condi-
tional sentences:
Yeter-ince vakit-im ol-sa sana şimdi yardım et-ebil-ir-di-im.
(ye*te*rin*ce / vak*tim / ol*sa~ / şim*di / sa*na / yar*dım / e*de*bi*lir*dim)
If I had enough time, I could help you now.
(The /t/ in “et” changes into the voiced /d/.)
Hava daha iyi ol-sa piknik-e git-ebil-ir-di-ik.
(ha*va / da*ha / i*yi / ol*sa~ / pik*ni*ğe / gi*de*bi*lir*dik)
We could go for a picnic if the weather were (was) better.
Main verb-[İR]-[Mİ/y/]-[Dİ]-[subject allomorph]
would or could (Polite request)
The verb phrase above is used to express a polite request in Turkish:
In this verb phrase, “main verb” symbolizes a verb root, a verb stem or a
verb frame. [İR] is a morpheme that includes all the allomorphs of the

23
Simple Present Tense ♫ [ir, ır, ür, ur, er, ar], [Mİ] includes all interrogative
allomorphs ♫ [mi, mı, mü, mu], [Dİ] represents the simple past tense allo-
morphs ♫ [di, dı, dü, du], and [pers] symbolizes all the subject allo-
morphs. Consider the following sentences:
Bir saniye ben-i dinler mi/y/-di-iniz?
(bir / sa:*ni*ye / be*ni / din*ler ↝ / miy*di*niz)
Would you listen to me for a second?
In fact, this sort of request is the second part of a conditional sentence:
Rica et-se-em, bir saniye ben-i dinler mi/y/-di-iniz?
(ri*ca: / et*sem~ / bir / sa:*ni*ye / be*ni / din*ler↝ / miy*di*niz)
Would you listen to me for a second if I asked?
Ben-im-le bir fincan çay iç-er mi/y/-di-iniz?
Would you have a cup of tea with me?
Bavul-um-u taşı-ma-am-a yardım et-er mi/y/-di-iniz?
(ba*vu*lu*mu / ta*şı*ma*ma / yar*dım / e*der ↝/ miy*di*niz)
Would you help me to carry my suitcase?
In the last example above, the /t/ in “et” changes into /d/, and the /y/ glide is
inserted between [mi] and [di].
If someone wishes to be politer, he could add the [E.BİL] and [İR]
morphemes to the verb phrase above:
Ben-i bir saniye dinle-/y/ebil-ir mi/y/-di-iniz?
(be*ni / bir / sa:*ni*ye / din*le*ye*bi*lir ↝/ miy*di*niz)
Could you listen to me for a second please?
The [İR] Simple Present, and [Dİ] Simple Past Tense morphemes are also
used together in Turkish conditional sentences:
Bura-da ol-sa biz-e yardım et-er-di.
(bur*da / ol*sa~/ bi*ze / yar*dım / e*der*di)
If he were here, he would help us.
(The /t/ changes into the /d/ voiced consonant.)
Sen-in yer-in-de ol-sa-am bu eski araba-/y/ı sat-ar-dı-ım.
(se*nin / ye*rin*de / ol*sam~ / bu / es*ki / a*ra*ba*yı / sa*tar*dım)
If I were you, I would sell this old car. (Advice)

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Öğretmen sen-i gör-se/y/-di kız-ar-dı.
(öğ*ret*men / se*ni / gör*sey*di / kı*zar*dı)
If the teacher saw you, he would get angry. (“Angry” is subj complement.)
FUTURE FORM OF “BE”: “WILL BE”
The future form of the verb “be” is “ol-[acak]-subj allomorph” in Turkish:
Yarın hava güneş-li ol-acak. (The underlined words are subj complements.)
(ya*rın / ha*va / gü*neş*li / o*la*cak ↷)
It will be sunny tomorrow.
Bir gün zengin ol-acak-/s/in.
(bir / gün / zen*gin / o*la*cak*/s/in ↷)
You will be wealthy some day.
Yarın okul-da ol-ma-/y/acak-ım.
(ya*rın / o*kul*da / ol*ma*ya*ca*ğım ↷) (ol*mıy*cam)
I won’t be at school tomorrow.
Saat sekiz-de hazır ol-acak mı-/s/in (ol-ur mu-sun)?
(sa*at / se*kiz*de / ha*zır / o*lur / mu*sun ↷)
Will you be ready at eight o’clock? (Request)
Saat kaç-ta hazır ol-acak-sın? (liaison)
(sa*at / kaç*ta ↝/ ha*zı*ro*la*cak*/s/in↝)
What time will you be ready?
As the verb root is always “ol”, only the [acak] allomorph is used. The other
[ecek] allomorph is used with action verbs: “gel-ecek”, “kal-acak”.
PERFECT MODALS
Main verb-[miş, mış, müş, muş] + [ol-malı]-[subj allomorph]
must have
This perfect modal verb phrase conveys a past concept of certainty.
Consider the following:
Görev-i-/n/i bitir-miş ol-malı.
(All the verbs with [miş, mış, müş, muş] allomorphs are subj complements in
Turkish.) (gö*re*vi*ni / bi*tir*miş / ol*ma*lı)
He must have finished his duty. (I am sure he (has) finished it.)
Ev-den ayrıl-mış ol-malı. (liaison)
(ev*den / ay*rıl*mı*şol*ma*lı)
He must have left home. (I am sure he has left home.)

25
Uçak in-miş ol-malı. (liaison)
(u*çak / in*mi*şol*ma*lı)
The plane must have landed. (I am sure it has landed)
Ben-i anla-mış ol-malı-/s/in. (liaison)
(be*ni / an*la*mı*şol*ma*lı*/s/in)
You must have understood me.
(I am sure you (have) understood me.)
O-/n/u bir yer-de gör-müş ol-malı-/y/ım. (liaison)
(o*nu / bir / yer*de / gör*mü*şol*ma*lı*yım)
I must have seen her somewhere.
(I am sure I saw her somewhere.) (“Sure” is subject complement.)
Both certainty and possibility concepts can also be conveyed by “main
verb-[miş, mış, müş, muş]-[subject allomorph]-[tir, tır, tür, tur]” verb phrases:
Görev-i-/n/i bitir-miş-tir. (Perhaps he (has) finished it)
(gö*re*vi*ni / bi*tir*miş*tir)
He must (may) have finished his duty.
Ev-den ayrıl-mış-tır.
(ev*den / ay*rıl*mış*tır)
He must (may) have left home.
Haber-i duy-muş-/s/un-dur.
(ha*be*ri / duy*muş*sun*dur)
You must have heard the news.
Haber-i duy-muş mu-dur?
(ha*be*ri / duy*muş / mu*dur)
Is he likely to have heard the news?
Haber-i duy-ma-mış-tır.
(ha*be*ri / duy*ma*mış*tır)
He can’t (couldn’t) have heard the news.
Haber duy-ul-ma-mış-tır. (Passive)
(ha*ber / du*yul*ma*mış*tır )
The news may not have been heard.
Bu saat-te yat-mış-tır bile.
(bu / sa*at*te / yat*mış*tır / bi*le )
He must have already gone to bed at this hour.

26
Yağmur dur-muş mu-dur?
(yağ*mur / dur*muş / mu*dur)
Is it likely to have stopped rain-ing?
The same verb phrase may be used in conditional sentences, as well:
Paris’-e git-ti/y/-se Eyfel Kulesi’-/n/i gör-müş-tür.
(pa*ri*se / git*tiy*se~ / ey*fel / ku*le*si*ni / gör*müş*tür)
If he went to Paris, he must have seen the Eiffel Tower.
Bir yanlışlık yap-tı/y/-sa özür dile-miş-tir.
(bir / yan*lış*lık / yap*tıy*sa~ / ö*zür / di*le*miş*tir)
If he made a mistake, he must have apologized.
Note: “git-ti/y/-se” means “if he went”, but “git-se/y/-di” means “if he
had gone”:
Paris’-e git-se/y/-di Eyfel Kulesi’-/n/i gör-ür-dü.
(pa*ri*se / git*sey*di ~/ ey*fel / ku*le*si*ni / gö*rür*dü)
If he had gone to Paris, he would have seen the Eiffel Tower.
(He didn’t go, and he didn’t see.)
Yeter-ince çalış-sa/y/-dı kötü bir not al-maz-dı.
(ye*te*rin*ce / ça*lış*say*dı~ / kö*tü / bir / not / al*maz*dı)
If he had studied hard enough, he wouldn’t have got a poor mark.
(He didn’t study, so he got a poor mark.)
Oyun-u seyret-se/y/-di-in hoşuna git-er-di.
(o*yu*nu / sey*ret*sey*din~/ ho*şu*na / gi*der*di)
If you had watched the play, you would have enjoyed it.
Main verb-[miş, mış, müş, muş] + ol-[ama(z)]-[subj allomorph]
can’t have
The verb chain above is used to form a verb phrase to convey past
impossibility. In doing this [eme or ama] is used with the first person
singular and plural, and with the others ”emez, amaz” are used.
Gör-müş ol-ama-am. (gör*müş / o*la*mam)
Gör-müş ol-amaz-/s/ın. (gör*müş / o*la*maz*/s/in)
Gör-müş ol-amaz. (gör*müş / o*la*maz)
Gör-müş ol-ama-/y/ız. (gör*müş / o*la*ma*yız)
Gör-müş ol-amaz-/s/ınız. (gör*müş / o*la*maz*sı*nız)
Gör-müş ol-amaz-lar. (gör*müş / o*la*maz*lar) XXX
Example sentences:

27
O-/n/u yanlış anlamışol-ama-am. (o*la*mam)
(o*nu / yan*lış / an*la*mış / o*la*mam) I
I can't (couldn’t) have misunderstood it.
Sen-i yanlış anla-mış ol-amaz mı?
(se*ni / yan*lış / an*la*mış / o*la*maz / mı)
Can’t he have misundrestood you?
Sen-i işit-miş ol-amaz.
(se*ni / i*şit*miş / o*la*maz)
He can’t (couldn’t) have heard you.
Lastik-i patla-mış ol-amaz.
(las*ti*ği / pat*la*mış / o*la*maz)
He can’t (couldn’t) have had a flat tire.
Tüm sorular-a cevap ver-miş ol-amaz-/s/ın.
(tüm / so*ru*la*ra / ce*vap / ver*miş / o*la*maz*/s/in)
You can’t (couldn’t) have answered all the questions.
Fenerbahçe yen-il-miş ol-amaz mı?
(fe*ner*bah*çe / ye*nil*miş / o*la*maz / mı)
Can’t Fenerbahçe have bee defeated?
noun + infinitive + gerek-ir-di
should have (ought to have)
This perfect modal phrase is used to express a past obligation or expecta-
tion that was not carried out:
Ev ödev-in-i yap-ma-an gerek-ir-di.
noun + infinitive compound subj comp-verb |
subject predicate
(ev / ö*de*vi*ni / yap*man / ge*re*kir*di)
You should (ought to) have done your homework. (But you didn’t.)
Bu araba-/y/ı al-mak için daha çok para biriktir-me-en gerek-ir-di.
(bu / a*ra*ba*yı / al*mak / i*çin~ / da*ha / çok / pa*ra / bi*rik*tir*men /
ge*re*kir*d)
You should have saved more money to buy this car. (But you didn’t.)
Sinav-da daha dikkat-li ol-ma-am gerek-ir-di.
(sı*nav*da / da*ha / dik*kat*li / ol*mam / ge*re*kir*di)
I should have been more careful in the examination. (But I wasn’t.)

28
Dün bana telefon et-me-en gerek-mez mi/y/-di?
(dün / ba*na / te*le*fon / et*men / ge*rek*mez / miy*di)
Shouldn't you have telephoned me yesterday? (Why didn't you?)
Ödev-in-i yap-ma-an gerek-mez mi/y/-di?
(ö*de*vi*ni / yap*man / ge*rek*mez / miy*di)
Shouldn't you have done your homework?
(You haven't done your homework. Why?)
To change the above modal phrase into the negative form, the ♫ [me] or
[ma] negation allomorphs are put after the main verbs, and then the [me]
or [ma] infinitive allomorphs follow them preceding the subject allomorphs:
Ekmek al-ma-ma-an gerek-ir-di.
(se*nin / ek*mek / al*ma*man / ge*re*kir*di ↷)
You shouldn’t (needn’t) have bought bread. (But you did.) (Advice)
Kız kardeş-in-e bağır-ma-ma-an gerek-ir-di.
(kız / kar*de*şi*ne / ba*ğır*ma*man / ge*re*kir*di ↷)
You shouldn’t have shouted at your sister. (But you did.) (Advice)
Yalan söyle-me-me-/s/i gerek-ir-di.
( ya*lan / söy*le*me*me*si / ge*re*kir*di ↷)
He shouldn’t have told a lie. (But he did.)
Mehmet’-in sınav-da kopya çek-me-me-/s/i gerek-ir-di.
(meh*me*din / sı*nav*da / kop*ya / çek*me*me*si / ge*re*kir*di ↷)
Mehmet shouldn’t have cheated in the examination. (But he did.)
Main verb-[miş, mış, müş, muş] + ol-abil-ir-[subj allomorph]
may have
This modal adds possibility to main verbs:
Dışarı-/y/a çık-mış ol-abil-ir.
(dı*şa*rı *ya / çık*mış / o*la*bi*lir )
He may have gone out. (Perhaps he has gone out.)
Dışarı-/y/a çık-mış-tır.
(dı*şa*rı*ya / çık*mış*tır)
He must have gone out. (I’m sure he has gone out)
Otobüs-ü kaçır-mış ol-abil-ir.
(o*to*bü*sü / ka*çır*mış / o*la*bi*lir)
He may have missed the bus. (Perhaps he has missed it.)

29
Otobüs-ü kaçır-mış ol-abil-ir mi?
(o*to*bü*sü / ka*çır*mış / o*la*bi*lir / mi)
Is he likely to have missed the bus?
Sen-i yanlış anla-mış ol-abil-ir.
(se*ni / yan*lı*şan*la*mı*şo*la*bi*lir) (liaison)
She may have misunderstood you. (Perhaps she misunderstood you.)
Büro temizlen-mişol.abil-ir.
(bü*ro / te*miz*len*miş / o*la*bi*lir)
The office may have been cleaned. (Perhaps it has been cleaned.)
Haber-i işit-miş ol.abil-ir-ler mi?
(ha*be*ri / i*şit*miş / o*la*bi*lir*ler / mi)
Are they likely to have heard the news?
Vazo-/y/u kedi kır-mış ol-abil-ir mi?
(va*zo*yu / ke*di / kır*mış / o*la*bi*lir / mi)
Is the cat likely to have broken the vase?
Bir anlaşma-/y/a var-mış ol-abil-ir-ler
(bir / an*laş*ma*ya / var*mış / o*la*bi*lir*ler)
They may have reached an agreement.
Main verb- [ebil, abil]-[ir]-[di]-[subject allomorph]
might have
Kaza geçir-ebil-ir-di-ik.
(ka*za: / ge*çi*re*bi*lir*dik)
We might have had an accident. (It was probable, but we didn’t)
Pencere-/y/i kır-abil-ir-di-in.
(pen*ce*re*yi / kı*ra*bi*lir*din)
You might have broken the window.
(It was probable, but you didn’t)
Maç kaybetil-ebil-ir-di. (Passive)
(maç / kay*be*di*le*bi*lir*di)
The match might have been lost. (It was probable, but it wasn’t lost.)
(The /t/ changes into /d/) (Passive)
Ön-ün-de-ki araba-/y/a çarp-abil-ir-di-in.
(ö*nün*de*ki / a*ra*ba*ya / çar*pa*bi*lir*din)
You might have hit the car in front of you. (But you didn't hit it)

30
Ön-ün-de-ki araba-/y/a carp-ma-/y/abil-ir-di-in.
(ö*nün*de*ki / a*ra*ba*ya / çarp*ma*ya*bi*lir*din)
You might not have hit the car in front of you. (But you hit it)
noun + infinitive + gerek-mez-[di]
needn’t have
This modal phrase is used to express absence of obligation or necessity.
The noun compounds used in the following sentences are showed between
inverted commas:
“Ayşe’-/n/in acele et-me-/s/i” gerek-mez-di.
noun + infinitive comp (subject) verb
(ay*şe*nin / a*ce*le / et*me*si / ge*rek*mez*di)
Ayşe needn’t have hurried. (But she did)
“Bütün soru-lar-a cevap ver-me-en” gerek-mez-di.
(bü*tün / so*ru*la*ra / ce*vap / ver*men / ge*rek*mez*di)
You needn’t have answered all the questions. (But you did.)
“Maç-ı ertele-me-ler-i” gerek-mez-di.
(ma*çı / er*te*le*me*le*ri / ge*rek*mez*di)
They needn’t have postponed the match. (But they did.)
Çiçek-ler-i sula-ma-anız gerek-mez-di.
(çi*çek*le*ri / su*la*ma*nız / ge*rek*mez*di)
You needn’t have watered the flowers. (But you did.)
Üç çift ayakkabı al-ma-an gerek-mez-di.
(üç / çift / a*yak*ka*bı / al*man / ge*rek*mez*di)
You needn't have bought three pairs of shoes.
Note: “git-me-se de olurdu”, “sula-ma-sa-lar da olurdu” sentence types can
also be used as alternatives to the sentences above.
noun + infinitive-[e, a] + gerek kalmadı
didn’t need to
This form of modal is used to express unfulfilled necessity in the past:
Uzun zaman bekle-me-em”-e gerek kal-ma-dı.
noun + infinitive comp -[e] (adverbial) indefinite obj verb
(u*zun / za*man / bek*le*me*me / ge*rek / kal*ma*dı)
I didn't need to wait for a long time.
Okul-a yürü-/y/erek git-me-emiz”-e gerek kal-ma-dı.
(o*ku*la / yü*rü*ye*rek / git*me*mi*ze / ge*rek / kal*ma*dı)
We didn’t need to walk to school.

31
Çiçek-ler-in sulan-ma-/s/ı”-/n/a gerek kal-ma-dı.
(çi*çek*le*rin / su*lan*ma*sı*na / ge*rek / kal*ma*dı)
The flowers didn’t need to be watered. (Passive infinitive)
(The /s/ and /n/ glides are used after [ma] and [ı] allomorphs respectively.)
Bir araba kirala-ma-amız-a gerek kal-ma-dı.
(bir / a*ra*ba / ki*ra:*la*ma*mı*za / ge*rek / kal*ma*dı)
We didn’t need to hire a car.
Toplantı yap-ma-amız-a gerek kal-ma-dı.
(top*lan*tı / yap*ma*mı*za / ge*rek / kal*ma*dı)
We didn’t need to hold a meeting.
Yardım iste-me-emiz-e gerek kal-ma-dı.
(yar*dım / is*te*me*mi*ze / ge*rek / kal*ma*dı)
We didn’t need to ask for help.
Bekle-me-emiz-e gerek kal-ma-dı.
(bek*le*me*mi*ze / ge*rek / kal*ma*dı)
We didn’t need to wait.

Modal verbs in english and modal allomorphs in turkish, yuksel goknel (revised and colored) 2014

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