Basic Sentence Order (SOV)
A1
Sentence Structure
Turkish has a default and neutral sentence structure:
Subject – Object – Verb (SOV).
In neutral statements, the verb typically appears at the end of the sentence.
Turkish is also a flexible language.
Elements may be moved to the beginning of the sentence for emphasis, contrast, or focus, while the verb placement generally remains stable.
1. Neutral / Default Order: SOV
Subject → Object → Verb
Examples:
Ben su içiyorum. (I am drinking water.)
O kitap okuyor. (He/She is reading a book.)
Biz film izliyoruz. (We are watching a movie.)
2. Subject + Verb
Used when there is no object present.
Examples:
Ben gidiyorum. (I am going.)
O uyuyor. (He/She is sleeping.)
Biz başlıyoruz. (We are starting.)
3. Object + Verb (Subject omitted)
The subject may be omitted because the verb ending indicates the subject.
Examples:
Su içiyorum. (I am drinking water.)
Kitap okuyorum. (I am reading a book.)
Kahve istiyorum. (I want coffee.)
4. Flexible Word Order and Emphasis
Word order can shift to place emphasis on a specific element. The core meaning stays the same; the highlighted part changes.
Examples with different focal points:
Ben yarın gidiyorum. (Emphasis on ben.)
Yarın ben gidiyorum. (Emphasis on yarın.)
Gidiyorum ben yarın. (Emphasis on gidiyorum.)
Gidiyorum yarın ben. (Emotional or assertive focus.)
All forms are correct; each carries a different pragmatic tone.
5. Position of Adjectives and Adverbs
Adjectives come before the noun:
büyük ev (big house)
kırmızı araba (red car)
Adverbs usually appear before the verb:
Bugün geliyorum. (I’m coming today.)
Yavaşça gidiyor. (He/She is going slowly.)
Çok seviyorum. (I love it very much.)
6. Negative and Question Forms
Negative and question structures generally preserve verb-final order.
Negation:
Ben bilmiyorum. (I don’t know.)
O istemiyor. (He/She doesn’t want.)
Yes/No Questions:
Sen geliyor musun? (Are you coming?)
O çalışıyor mu? (Is he/she working?)
The question particle mi/mı/mu/mü follows the word it emphasizes.
Examples
Ben bugün çok yorgunum. (I am very tired today.)
O kahve yapıyor. (He/She is making coffee.)
Biz seni bekliyoruz. (We are waiting for you.)
Bu filmi çok seviyorum. (I love this movie.)
Ben sabahları kitap okuyorum. (I read books in the mornings.)
Notes
The neutral pattern is SOV, but Turkish allows flexible word order.
The verb ending already indicates the subject, so the subject may be omitted.
Word order shifts create focus and emphasis, not new grammatical meaning.
Adjectives precede nouns; adverbs commonly precede the verb.
Basic Sentence Order (SOV) – FAQ (A1)
Q: What is the basic sentence order in Turkish?
A: The basic and neutral sentence order in Turkish is Subject – Object – Verb (SOV), with the verb usually at the end.
Q: Can Turkish sentences have different word orders?
A: Yes. Turkish has flexible word order, and elements can move for emphasis, but the verb usually stays at the end.
Q: Can the subject be omitted in Turkish sentences?
A: Yes. The subject can be omitted because the verb ending already shows who is performing the action.