Basic Adjectives &
Word Order
A1
Adjectives
Adjectives in Turkish precede the noun they modify. They do not inflect for number, gender, case, or person. The adjective and noun form a single noun phrase with fixed word order.
1. Position of Adjectives
The adjective appears directly before the noun:
büyük ev
yeni kitap
uzun yol
güzel şehir
This order is obligatory.
2. No Agreement or Inflection
Adjectives do not change form based on:
• number
• gender
• case
• possession
Only the noun carries inflection:
büyük ev → büyük evi
yeni kitap → yeni kitaba
uzun yol → uzun yoldan
3. Multiple Adjectives
More than one adjective may modify the same noun.
All adjectives precede the noun, forming a linear structure:
büyük güzel ev
eski uzun yol
geniş modern oda
The adjectives remain uninflected.
4. Adjective as Predicate
When an adjective functions as a predicate, personal endings attach to the adjective:
büyük → büyüğüm
hazır → hazırsın
yeni → yeniyiz
mutlu → mutlular
Predicate marking follows the structure of nominal predication.
5. Adjective–Noun Boundary
Adjectives never follow the noun.
A structure where the noun precedes the adjective forms a predicate, not a noun phrase:
büyük ev = “the big house”
ev büyük = “the house is big”
Examples
• Büyük ev burada. — The big house is here.
• Yeni kitap geldi. — The new book arrived.
• Uzun yol başlıyor. — The long road begins.
• Güzel şehir büyüyor. — The beautiful city is growing.
• Eski araba durdu. — The old car stopped.
• Küçük çocuk uyuyor. — The small child is sleeping.
Notes
• Adjectives precede the noun and do not inflect.
• Case and possessive suffixes appear only on the noun.
• Predicative adjectives take personal endings.
Basic Adjectives & Word Order – FAQ (A1)
Q: Where do adjectives appear in Turkish sentences?
A: Adjectives always come before the noun they modify and form a single noun phrase with fixed word order.
Q: Do Turkish adjectives change for number, gender, or case?
A: No. Adjectives do not change form. Only the noun takes plural, case, or possessive suffixes.
Q: Can more than one adjective modify the same noun?
A: Yes. Multiple adjectives can be used together, and all of them appear before the noun without changing form.