Rules and usage
The Turkish necessity mood (gereklilik kipi) expresses obligation, necessity, and what must be done. It uses the suffixes -malı or -meli depending on vowel harmony. This form is essential for expressing duties, recommendations, and requirements in Turkish.
When the Necessity Mood is Used
- To express obligation or requirement: Yarın erkenden başlamalıyız (We must start early tomorrow)
- To indicate what is necessary or must happen: Bu işi yapmalısın (You must do this work)
- To express advice or strong recommendation: Daha az kahve içmelisin (You should drink less coffee)
- To show duty or responsibility: Evini temizlemeli misin? (Do you have to clean your house?)
- To express natural or logical necessity: Çok sıcaksa, hemen su içmelisin (If it is very hot, you must drink water immediately)
✅ Positive sentence examples
| Turkish | English |
|---|
| Haydi, evime gitmeliyim. | Come on, I must go home. |
| Doktor gelmelidir. | The doctor must come. |
⛔ Negative sentence examples
| Turkish | English |
|---|
| Yalan söylememeliyim. | I must not lie. |
| Bana söylememelisin. | You must not tell me. |
❓ Question sentence examples
| Turkish | English |
|---|
| Hemen gitmeli miyim? | Must I leave right now? |
| Ödemeyi bugün yapmalı mısın? | Must you pay today? |