Turkish Grammar › Noun Compounds
İsim Tamlamaları (-(n)In … -(s)I)
Noun Compounds
Level A1Noun Compounds
Noun compounds link two nouns together to express possession or a type relationship.
When two or more nouns are used together to express belonging, possession or a type relationship, the result is called a noun compound (isim tamlaması). There are two basic groups: the definite compound and the indefinite compound. In a definite compound the first noun (the modifier) takes the genitive ending «-ın/-in/-un/-ün/-nın/-nin/-nun/-nün» and the second noun (the head) takes the possessive ending «-ı/-i/-u/-ü, -sı/-si/-su/-sü». This structure shows that something belongs to a particular person or thing. In «Ali’nin evi» (Ali’s house) or «okulun kapısı» (the door of the school), for example, the first noun takes the genitive and the second the possessive, so the relationship of possession is stated explicitly.
In an indefinite compound, by contrast, the first noun (the modifier) takes no ending at all, and only the second noun (the head) takes the possessive ending «-(s)I». This structure is used for general kinds, species, object names, place names and job titles. «Türkçe öğretmeni» (Turkish teacher), «otobüs durağı» (bus stop), «okul çantası» (school bag) and «cep telefonu» (mobile phone) are all indefinite compounds. When a further case ending is added to a compound — locative, dative or ablative, for example — the buffer consonant «n» comes after the possessive ending, giving forms such as «ev-i-n-de» and «masa-sı-n-da».
Examples
- Çocuğun oyuncağı kırıldı.The child’s toy broke.
- Annemin telefonu çalıyor.My mother’s phone is ringing.
- Okul kapısı kapalı.The school door is closed.
- Otobüs durağı kalabalık.The bus stop is crowded.
- Kahve fincanı masada.The coffee cup is on the table.