Negation in Turkish

in Grammar

Negation in Turkish: ‘Hayır,’ ‘Değil,’ ‘Yok,’ and Negative Suffixes

In this article, you will learn how to form negation in Turkish, enabling you to deny actions, states, or existence. We will explore the different ways to express negation in Turkish, including negation words, suffixes, and double negation rules. Hadi başlayalım!

1. Negation Words in Turkish

Turkish uses several specific words to express negation in different contexts. These words allow speakers to construct negative sentences, emphasize absence, or deny actions explicitly. In this section, we will analyze each negation word, its usage, and examples.

1.1 Hayır

“Hayır” means “no” and is used as a standalone response to questions. It is commonly used in formal and informal contexts to give negative answers.

Examples:

  • Bu senin kitabın mı? Hayır. (Is this your book? No.)

1.2 Değil

“Değil” is used to negate nouns, adjectives, and adverbs in the form “X is not Y”.

Examples:

  • Bu kitap yeni değil. (This book is not new.)
  • O öğrenci değil. (He/She is not a student.)

1.3 Yok (There isn’t / There aren’t)

“Yok” is used to indicate the absence of something and translates to “there isn’t / there aren’t”.

Examples:

  • Kitap masada yok. (The book is not on the table.)
  • Bugün para yok. (There is no money today.)

1.4 Ne…ne[de] (Neither…nor)

This structure is used to negate two options simultaneously (“neither… nor”).

Examples:

  • Ne ben ne de sen kazandın. (Neither I nor you won.)
  • Ne yemek ne de içmek istiyorum. (I want neither to eat nor to drink.)

1.5 Hiç (Ever / Never / At all) and Variations

“Hiç” often means “never,” “ever,” or “at all” depending on context.

Examples:

  • Çilekleri hiç sevmem. (I don’t like strawberries at all.)
  • Hiç kimse (Nobody): Hiç kimse gelmedi. (Nobody came.)
  • Hiçbir yerde (Nowhere): Onu hiçbir yerde bulamadım. (I couldn’t find it anywhere.)
  • Hiçbir şekilde (In no way): Bunu hiçbir şekilde kabul etmiyorum. (I don’t accept this in any way.)

1.6 Asla (Never)

“Asla” expresses strong negation and means “never.”

Examples:

  • Ben asla yalan söylemem. (I never lie.)
  • O filmi asla izlemeyeceğim. (I will never watch that movie.)

2. Negation Suffixes

In Turkish, suffixes play a major role in forming negative expressions, especially when attached to verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. This section explores the various suffixes that modify meanings and create negative forms in Turkish.

2.1 -me / -ma

The suffixes -me and -ma are added to verbs to create negative meanings. Their usage depends on vowel harmony rules, which determine whether -me or -ma is attached to the verb root. Specifically, verbs with front vowels (e, i, ö, ü) take -me, while verbs with back vowels (a, ı, o, u) take -ma.

These suffixes are essential for forming commands and statements in the negative form.

Examples:

  • Gelme. (Don’t come.)
  • Yazma. (Don’t write.)
  • Çalışma bu kadar. (Don’t work this much.)
  • Konuşma lütfen. (Don’t speak, please.)

2.2 -maz / -mez ; -amaz / -emez

The suffixes -maz / -mez are used to create negative adjectives or habitual actions at the present simple tense. Additionally, the forms -amaz / -emez express inability or prohibition (“cannot” in Turkish) in the present tense.

Examples:

  • Geçmez. (It doesn’t pass.)
  • Bitmez. (It doesn’t end.)
  • Utanmaz çoçuk (Shameless child – here “untanmak” becomes adjective)
  • Yapamaz. (He/she cannot do it.)

2.3 -madan / -meden

These suffixes mean “without doing something” and take the form of verbal adverbs.

Examples:

  • Sormadan gitme. (Don’t leave without asking.)
  • Düşünmeden konuşma. (Don’t speak without thinking.)

2.4 -maksızın / -meksizin

These suffixes express the idea of performing an action without having done something else first (translates to “without”). They are often used in formal or written contexts. The appropriate suffix, either -maksızın or -meksizin, is attached to the verb stem based on vowel harmony.

Examples:

  • Bilmeksizin hareket ettim. (I acted without knowing.)
  • Anlamaksızın karar verdiler. (They decided without understanding.)

2.5 -meyip / -mayıp

This is the negative form of the subordinating suffixes “-ıp, -ip, -up, -üp”. Those suffixes connect two clauses, where the first action is negated.

Examples:

  • Gitmeyip kaldı. (Instead of going, he stayed.)
  • Bakmayıp geçti. (He passed without looking.)

2.6 -sız / -siz / -suz / -süz (Without)

The suffixes -sız, -siz, -suz, and -süz transform nouns into adjectives that describe the absence of something. They adhere to vowel harmony rules, matching the last vowel of the root word.These suffixes are commonly used to express lack, deprivation, or absence.

Examples:

  • Susuz. (Without water.)
  • Parasız. (Without money.)
  • Umutsuz. (Hopeless.)

3. Negation in Interrogative Sentences

Negative forms can also be used in questions to clarify or confirm information. Here, you use “değil” or the verb at the negative form followed by the interrogative suffix “mi”.

3.1 Değil mi

This tag question confirms or denies something and translates to “isn’t it?”.

Examples:

  • Bu kitap yeni, değil mi? (This book is new, isn’t it?)
  • Sen doktorsun, değil mi? (You’re a doctor, aren’t you?)

3.2 Suffixes -me / -ma

Negative suffixes can be used in questions without “değil”. The negative verb is followed by the question suffix “mi” following the vowel harmony.

Examples:

  • Gitmek istemiyor musun? (Don’t you want to go?)
  • Yapmadı mı? (Didn’t he/she do it?)

4. Double Negation in Turkish

In Turkish, double negation often reinforces the negative meaning rather than canceling it out, unlike in English. However, there are also cases where double negation leads to positive interpretations based on context. Let’s explore these patterns with examples.

4.1 Negative Verb + Olmaz (Not to Be)

In certain cases, a double negative implies a positive obligation or necessity.

Examples:

  • Başka yemekleri denemezsen olmaz. (It’s not okay if you don’t try other dishes.)
    • Meaning: You need to try other dishes.
  • Gitmezsek olmaz. (It’s not okay if we don’t go.)
    • Meaning: We need to go.

4.2 Negative Verb + Kalmaz (Not Left)

Another pattern shows that negation highlights an all-inclusive effect.

Examples:

  • Bunu söylersen bilmeyen kalmaz. (If you say this, there won’t be anyone who doesn’t know.)
    • Meaning: Everyone will know.
  • Haber yayılırsa duymayan kalmaz. (If the news spreads, there will be no one who doesn’t hear.)
    • Meaning: Everyone will hear.

4.3 Negative Verb + Değil (Not)

In some cases, the double negative softens the statement, implying a positive meaning.

Examples:

  • Onu anlamıyor değil. (It’s not that he doesn’t understand.)
    • Meaning: He does understand something.
  • Her şey kötü olmadı değil. (It’s not that everything was bad.)
    • Meaning: Some things were good.

4.4 Yok (There isn’t) + Değil (Not)

This form emphasizes a positive statement while acknowledging a minor limitation.

Examples:

  • Param yok değil, ama harcamak istemiyorum. (It’s not that I don’t have money, but I don’t want to spend it.)
  • Vaktim yok değil, ama acele etmeliyim. (It’s not that I don’t have time, but I must hurry.)

4.5 Hiç (None / Not at All) + Yok (There isn’t)

This combination strongly reinforces a negative meaning.

Examples:

  • Bende sabır hiç yok. (I don’t have patience at all.)
  • Bu konuda umut hiç yok. (There’s no hope at all about this.)
  • Hiç kimse gelmedi. (Nobody came.)
  • Asla yapmam. (I will never do it.)
  • Hiçbir yerde bulamadım. (I couldn’t find it anywhere.)

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