Rules and usage
The passive voice in Turkish is formed by adding the suffix -il or -in to the verb stem. This perspective shift allows you to focus on the action itself and what happens, rather than who performs the action, and is essential for creating varied and natural-sounding Turkish sentences.
When to Use the Passive Voice
- Use passive when the agent (the person doing the action) is unknown, unimportant, or obvious from context.
- Use it to emphasize the result or action rather than the person responsible.
- Use it when you choose not to reveal or cannot name the person performing the action.
- Examples:
- Kitap yazıldı. (The book was written.)
- Kapı açıldı. (The door was opened.)
- Pencere kırıldı. (The window was broken.)
✅ Positive sentence examples
| Turkish | English |
|---|
| Her gün kapı açılır. | The door is opened every day. |
| Kahve her sabah yapılır. | Coffee is made every morning. |
⛔ Negative sentence examples
| Turkish | English |
|---|
| Kapı açılmıyor. | The door is not being opened. |
| Yemek yenilmedi. | The food was not eaten. |
❓ Question sentence examples
| Turkish | English |
|---|
| Kapı açılacak mı? | Will the door be opened? |
| Yemek yenildi mi? | Was the food eaten? |