what is it?
Turkish has three suffixes that convert a verb stem into a noun: -mAk, -mA, and -Iş. -mAk is the plain infinitive and is used when the verbal noun shares its subject with the main verb. -mA is used in embedded clauses where the verbal noun has its own, different subject, and it always takes a possessive suffix to mark that subject. -Iş expresses the manner or a single instance of an action and is largely lexicalised — many -Iş words are simply stored as ordinary nouns (e.g. yürüyüş 'walk', gidiş 'departure').
when to use it
-mAk — use as the subject or object of a sentence when the doer of the verbal noun is the same as the doer of the main verb. It is also the dictionary (citation) form of every Turkish verb.
-mA + possessive — use when the embedded clause has a subject that differs from the main verb's subject. The possessive suffix on -mA agrees with that embedded subject. Case suffixes (accusative, dative, etc.) are added after the possessive.
-Iş — use to refer to the manner or a single instance of an action, or when a fixed -Iş noun is already part of the vocabulary (e.g. yürüyüş, gidiş). At A2 you will mostly encounter these as ready-made nouns rather than building new ones productively.
formation
All three suffixes attach directly to the bare verb stem. The vowels in the suffixes follow four-way vowel harmony (A → a/e; I → ı/i/u/ü).
| verb stem | suffix | output form | meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| oku- | -mAk | okumak | to read / reading |
| gel- | -mAk | gelmek | to come / coming |
| yüz- | -mAk | yüzmek | to swim / swimming |
| oku- | -mA + possessive (3sg) | okuması | his/her reading |
| gel- | -mA + possessive (3sg) | gelmesi | his/her coming |
| yürü- | -Iş | yürüyüş | walk (lexicalised) |
| git- | -Iş | gidiş | departure (lexicalised) |
The capital letters A and I in suffix notation stand for harmonising vowels, not literal letters. Always choose the vowel that matches the last vowel of the stem: okumak (back, rounded → a), gelmek (front, unrounded → e).
When -mA is used in an embedded clause, add the possessive suffix for the embedded subject, then any required case suffix:
| embedded subject | possessive suffix | example (gel-) | meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ben (I) | -(I)m | gelmem | my coming |
| sen (you) | -(I)n | gelmен | your coming |
| o (he/she/it) | -(s)I | gelmesi | his/her coming |
| biz (we) | -(I)mIz | gelmemiz | our coming |
| siz (you pl.) | -(I)nIz | gelmeniz | your (pl.) coming |
| onlar (they) | -lArI | gelmeleri | their coming |
When the verbal noun is the object of the main verb, add the accusative suffix -(n)I after the possessive: onun gelmesini istiyorum ('I want his coming' = 'I want him to come').
examples in context
common pitfalls
Missing the possessive on -mA. When the embedded clause has its own subject, -mA must carry a possessive suffix. Writing *onun gelme zor is incorrect; the required form is onun gelmesi zor. Without the possessive, the sentence is ungrammatical.
Using -mAk when the subjects differ. The bare infinitive -mAk is only valid when both verbs share the same subject. If the subjects differ, switch to -mA + possessive. *Onun gelmek istiyorum is wrong because 'I' want but 'he' comes. The correct form is Onun gelmesini istiyorum.
Wrong vowel in the suffix. The A in -mAk harmonises with the last vowel of the stem. okumak has a back vowel (o), so the suffix vowel is a. Writing *okumek applies front-vowel harmony incorrectly. Always check the last vowel of the stem before choosing a or e.