Participles (Verbal Adjectives)
Use verb forms as adjectives to modify nouns
What are Participles?
Participles are verb forms that function as adjectives. Turkish has several participle suffixes based on time:
Present: -(y)en (the one who/which...)
Past: -miş, -dik (the one who/which did...)
Future: -(y)ecek (the one who/which will...)
They modify nouns and follow vowel harmony.
gel-en adamgel + en (present participle)
gör-düğ-üm filmgör + düğ + üm (past participle with possessive)
al-acağ-ım kitapal + acağ + ım (future participle)
Present Participle -(y)en
Forms: -en/-an (e-type harmony)
Expresses ongoing or habitual action. The participle comes before the noun it modifies.
koş-an çocukkoş + an
yaz-an kadınyaz + an
konuş-an kişikonuş + an
Past Participle -dik/-tik
Forms: -dik/-dık/-duk/-dük or -tik/-tık/-tuk/-tük (i-type harmony)
Requires possessive suffix to show who performed the action:
Pattern: Verb + -dik + possessive + noun
oku-duğ-um kitapoku + duğ + um
gör-düğ-ün filmgör + düğ + ün
yap-tığ-ımız işyap + tığ + ımız
Future Participle -(y)ecek
Forms: -ecek/-acak (e-type harmony)
Expresses future action. Can also take possessive suffixes.
gel-ecek misafirlergel + ecek
al-acağ-ım arabaal + acağ + ım
yap-acağ-ımız planyap + acağ + ımız
Exercises
Form: 'the book that I am reading'
Answer: okuduğum kitap
oku + duğ + um + kitap (past participle with possessive)
Translate: the sleeping cat
Answer: uyuyan kedi
uyu + yan + kedi (present participle)
Complete: Yaz__ mektup (the letter that you will write)
Answer: acağın
yaz + acağ + ın = yazacağın (future participle)