Rules and usage
These participles (ortaçlar) are verb forms that function as adjectives or in relative clauses, showing time relationships. They are built from the verb root using vowel harmony rules and are among the most frequently used structures in Turkish.
The -an/-en Participle: General and Present Actions
- The -an/-en form describes habitual, general, or present-moment actions. It is the most common participle in Turkish.
- Formation: Add -an to back-vowel verbs and -en to front-vowel verbs, following strict vowel harmony. almak → alan (taking), vermek → veren (giving), kalmak → kalan (remaining).
- Usage: This participle describes ongoing or habitual actions and modifies nouns as an adjective. çalışan arkadaş (working friend), satılan ayakkabılar (shoes being sold), okuyan öğrenciler (students reading).
- Negative: Insert -ma or -me between the root and the participle. gelmEyen (not coming), çalışMAyan (not working).
- Questions: Use intonation or add a question particle after the participle. Gelen kız senin arkadaşın mı? (Is the girl coming your friend?).
✅ Positive sentence examples
| Turkish | English |
|---|
| Kahvede oturan adamlar maç izliyor. | The men sitting in the café are watching the match. |
| Geçen hafta satın aldığım bilgisayar çok hızlı. | The computer I bought last week is very fast. |
⛔ Negative sentence examples
| Turkish | English |
|---|
| Ders çalışmayan öğrenci başarısız olur. | The student who doesn't study will fail. |
| Davetiyeyi almamış kişiler gelemedi. | The people who didn't receive the invitation couldn't come. |
❓ Question sentence examples
| Turkish | English |
|---|
| Pazara giden insanları gördün mü? | Did you see the people going to the market? |
| Geçen sene aldığın ev neresi? | Where is the house you bought last year? |