Adjectives inside Noun Phrases
B2
Noun Phrases
1. Function
In Turkish, adjectives inside noun phrases do more than describe qualities.
They interact with determiners, possession, and compound structures to control reference.
Adjective placement determines:
• whether the reference is general or specific
• which element is being modified
• how information is packaged in daily, professional, and academic discourse
2. Forms
A) Basic Adjective Structures
Adjective + Noun
Examples:
mavi araba
the blue car
kapsamlı rapor
the comprehensive report
In bare form, this structure typically refers to a specific or contextually identifiable entity.
B) Adjective + “bir” + Noun (Indefinite Reference)
Adjective + bir + Noun
Examples:
mavi bir araba
a blue car
önemli bir karar
an important decision
The adjective precedes bir.
This structure introduces a new, non-specific reference.
3. Morphology
A) Adjectives with Possessives (Hierarchical Placement)
In possessive noun phrases, adjectives appear between the owner and the owned entity.
Owner + Adjective + Owned
Examples:
annem-in mavi araba-sı
my mother’s blue car
şirket-in yeni politika-sı
the company’s new policy
The adjective modifies the owned noun, not the owner.
B) Determiners and Adjectives (Order Constraint)
Determiners appear before adjectives.
They establish the reference frame for the entire noun phrase.
Determiner + Adjective + Noun
Examples:
bu stratejik karar
this strategic decision
bazı önemli karar-lar
some important decisions
In bazı önemli kararlar, bazı determines the entire group, not just the adjective.
C) Compound Adjectives (-lI / -sIz)
Indefinite compounds can form complete adjectival units.
[Noun + Noun]-lI / -sIz + Noun
Examples:
[düşük maliyet]-li proje-ler
low-cost projects
[yüksek risk]-li yatırım-lar
high-risk investments
[Faiz]-siz kredi imkanı
interest-free loan opportunity
[Risk]-siz yatırım araçları
Risk-free investment vehicles
The compound functions as one adjective, not two separate modifiers.
D) Pronominal n (Morphological Continuity)
Adjectives do not interrupt possessive morphology.
Examples:
annem-in mavi araba-sı-n-da
in my mother’s blue car
şirket-in yeni politika-sı-n-ın sonuç-lar-ı
the results of the company’s new policy
politika-sı-n-dan
from its policy
The pronominal -n- appears after possessive suffixes before any case marker, regardless of whether the case suffix begins with a vowel or a consonant.
4. Structural Guide
A) Adjectives and Indefinite Compounds (The Split Rule)
Indefinite compounds form inseparable conceptual units.
An adjective cannot appear between the two nouns.
Ungrammatical:
yatırım yeni stratejisi ✗
Grammatical:
yeni [yatırım stratejisi]
new investment strategy
The adjective must modify the entire compound, not one of its internal parts.
B) Scope Ambiguity in Complex Phrases
Adjective placement may create ambiguity due to scope.
Example:
küresel ekonomi politikası
Possible interpretations:
küresel [ekonomi politikası]
global economic policy
[küresel ekonomi] politikası
the policy of the global economy
The ambiguity results from which unit the adjective attaches to, not from incorrect grammar.
5. Usage
Adjectives inside noun phrases are used to:
• introduce or narrow reference
• manage informational focus
• avoid ambiguity in speech and writing
• structure both everyday and professional discourse
Such structures are common in daily conversation, media language, and formal texts.
6. Examples
A) Daily Life
annem-in eski çantası
my mother’s old bag
yeni telefon modeli
new phone model
küçük bir kafe
a small café
B) Media & Informational Context
küresel ekonomik kriz
global economic crisis
şehir ulaşım planı
city transportation plan
önemli bir gelişme
an important development
C) Professional & Academic Context
şirket-in uzun vadeli yatırım planı
the company’s long-term investment plan
uygulanan çevre politika-ları
implemented environmental policies
yüksek risk-li finansal araç-lar
high-risk financial instruments
beklenen yapısal reform-lar
expected structural reforms
Notes
• Adjectives precede the nouns they modify.
• Determiners precede adjectives.
• In possessive phrases, adjectives appear between owner and entity.
• Indefinite compounds cannot be split by adjectives.
• Compound-based adjectives function as single modifiers.
• Pronominal -n- remains intact regardless of adjective insertion.
• Ambiguity results from scope, not incorrect form.
Adjectives inside Noun Phrases – FAQ (B2)
Q: How does adjective placement affect reference in Turkish noun phrases?
A: Adjective placement determines whether a reference is general or specific. It also controls which element in the noun phrase is being modified, not just what quality is described.
Q: Where do adjectives appear in possessive noun phrases?
A: In possessive structures, adjectives appear between the owner and the owned noun. The adjective always modifies the owned entity, not the possessor.
Q: Why can’t adjectives split indefinite noun compounds?
A: Indefinite compounds form inseparable conceptual units. An adjective must modify the entire compound as a whole and cannot appear between its internal nouns.