Grammar

Questions (-mi?)

Yes/No questions in Turkish are typically formed using the question particle mi / mı / mu / mü, which follows I-Type vowel harmony based on the preceding vowel.

Formation:

The question particle is written as a separate word and comes after the verb (or the word being questioned). Personal suffixes are attached to the question particle, not the verb itself.

Verb (conjugated for tense/mood, but usually without personal suffix) + mi/mı/mu/mü + Personal Suffix (if applicable)

Examples:

  • Present Continuous:
    Geliyor musun? (Are you coming?)
    (geliyor + mu + sun)
  • Present Simple/Aorist:
    Okur musun? (Do you read? / Would you read?)
    (okur + mu + sun)
  • Past Simple (-di):
    Yaptı mı? (Did he/she do it?)
    (yaptı + - no personal suffix for 3rd person singular)
    Yaptınız mı? (Did you (pl./formal) do it?)
    (yaptı + nız + - Note: Suffixes can sometimes attach to verb, then particle: Yaptınız mı? or Yaptı mıydınız? - latter is more complex) Simpler: Siz yaptınız mı? (You did do it?)
  • Future Tense:
    Gelecek misin? (Will you come?)
    (gelecek + mi + sin)
  • With "to be" (using değil for negative):
    Bu kitap mı? (Is this a book?)
    Hasta mısın? (Are you sick?)
    Öğretmen değil mi? (Isn't he/she a teacher?)

The question particle mi takes the full stress of the sentence.

Practice Zone

1. How do you ask 'Are you coming?' (Present Continuous, informal 'you')?