Evidential Nuance (–miş)
B1
Tenses
1. Function
–miş marks the source and status of information. It is used when the speaker does not present the event as a directly confirmed fact, but as:
reported information
inferred information
newly discovered information
questioned or ironic information
The same event can be expressed with –DI or –miş.
The difference lies in how the speaker positions the claim.
2. Forms
–miş / –mış / –muş / –müş
The suffix follows four-way vowel harmony.
Examples:
gelmiş
kalmış
olmuş
görmüş
duymuş
bitmiş
3. Morphology
verb stem + (negation) + –miş + personal ending
Affirmative (different vowel harmony groups shown):
a / ı group
kalmışım
kalmışsın
kalmış
kalmışız
kalmışsınız
kalmışlar
e / i group
gelmişim
gelmişsin
gelmiş
gelmişiz
gelmişsiniz
gelmişler
ö / ü group
görmüşüm
görmüşsün
görmüş
görmüşüz
görmüşsünüz
görmüşler
o / u group
olmuşum
olmuşsun
olmuş
olmuşuz
olmuşsunuz
olmuşlar
Negative (–mA before –miş):
gelmemiş
kalmamış
görmemiş
olmamış
Negative – with personal endings:
gelmemişim
gelmemişsin
gelmemiş
gelmemişiz
gelmemişsiniz
gelmemişler
4. Structural Guide
The structure has two distinct chains:
Affirmative: verb stem → –miş → personal ending
Negative: verb stem → –mA → –miş → personal ending
–miş occupies the same slot as –DI.
The structure does not change.
The interpretation changes.
5. Usage
A) Reported information
The speaker reports information learned from others, news, or general talk.
B) Inferred information
The speaker observes present evidence and concludes a past event.
C) Newly discovered information
The speaker realizes something at the moment of speaking and corrects an assumption.
D) Contradictory / Ironic information
The speaker signals doubt, disbelief, irony, or contradiction.
The form suggests “so they say”, “supposedly”, or “I don’t believe this.”
Examples
A) Reported
Müdür istifa etmiş.
— The manager resigned (reported).
A: Ali nerede?
B: Eve gitmiş.
— He went home (reported).
Ayşe gelmemiş.
— She didn’t come (reported).
B) Inferred
Işıklar kapalı. Herkes çıkmış.
— The lights are off. I infer that everyone left.
Kapı kilitli. Ali evden gitmiş.
— The door is locked. I infer that Ali went out.
Zemin kuru. Yağmur yağmamış.
— The ground is dry. I infer that it didn’t rain.
C) Newly discovered
Aaa, anahtar masanın üstündeymiş!
— Oh, the key is on the table! I realize it now.
Seni yorgun sanıyordum ama enerjikmişsin.
— I thought you were tired, but you’re actually energetic.
— I correct my assumption.
Adres yanlışmış.
— The address is wrong.
— I realize it now.
D) Contradictory / Ironic
Sen de çok çalışkanmışsın!
— Oh, you’re so hardworking! (ironic)
Güya beni arayacakmış.
— Supposedly he was going to call me.
Çok zenginmişler.
— They’re “very rich.” (I doubt it.)
Negative, ironic:
Çok ilgiliymiş ama bir mesaj bile atmamış.
— He was “so interested,” yet he didn’t even send a message.
–DI vs –miş (same event, different stance)
Ali kapıyı açtı.
— Ali opened the door. (presented as confirmed fact)
Ali kapıyı açmış.
— Ali opened the door. (reported or inferred)
Toplantıyı iptal ettiler.
— They canceled the meeting. (confirmed)
Toplantıyı iptal etmişler.
— They canceled the meeting. (reported or questioned)
Notes
–miş marks information source and speaker stance.
Reported, inferred, discovered, and ironic uses are all common.
–DI presents information as directly confirmed.
Negation: –mA + –miş (gelmemiş, yapmamış).
Personal endings remain fully visible in all uses.
Evidential Nuance (–miş) – FAQ (B1)
Q: What does the suffix –miş express in Turkish?
A: –miş marks the source and status of information. It is used when the speaker presents information as reported, inferred, newly discovered, or questioned rather than directly confirmed.
Q: What is the difference between –DI and –miş for the same event?
A: –DI presents an event as a confirmed fact. –miş presents the same event with distance, uncertainty, or indirect evidence, reflecting the speaker’s stance.
Q: How is negation formed with –miş?
A: Negation is formed with –mA before –miş. The verb stem takes –me / –ma, followed by –miş and personal endings.