what is it?
An indirect question is a question embedded inside another clause — typically after verbs like sormak (to ask), bilmek (to know), or anlamak (to understand). In Turkish, indirect questions are not formed with a question particle; instead, the embedded verb is nominalised. Yes/no questions use the -Ip …-mADIğI frame (with accusative -nI when required). Wh-questions keep their question word and nominalise the verb with -DIK (past/present reference) or -AcAK (future reference), each followed by a possessive suffix and, where the noun phrase is a direct object, the accusative suffix.
when to use it
Reporting a yes/no question. Use this frame when the original question could be answered with «evet» or «hayır». The direct question's mI particle is dropped entirely; the contrast is carried instead by the -Ip / -mA- alternation.
Reporting a wh-question. Use this frame when the original question contains a question word such as ne, nerede, ne zaman, kim, etc. The question word is retained in its original position; the verb is nominalised.
Choosing -DIK vs -AcAK. Use -DIK when the embedded event is simultaneous with or prior to the matrix verb (present or past meaning). Use -AcAK when the embedded event is future relative to the matrix verb. The same rule applies to the affirmative stem in the -Ip frame.
Accusative marking. When the nominalised clause functions as the direct object of the matrix verb (e.g. after sormak or bilmek), it takes the accusative suffix -(y)I after the possessive.
formation
Yes/no indirect questions: the -Ip …-mA frame
Take the verb stem. The affirmative branch adds -Ip (a converb suffix, harmonising as -ip / -ıp / -up / -üp). The negative branch takes the negative stem (stem + -mA-) and then the nominaliser -DIğI or -AcAğI plus the appropriate possessive suffix, then the accusative -(y)I if the whole phrase is a direct object. The two branches are written as one compound: [stem]-Ip [stem]-mA-DIğI-(poss)-(acc).
| person | affirmative branch | negative branch (present/past ref.) | negative branch (future ref.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1sg | gel-ip | gel-me-diğ-im-i | gel-me-yeceğ-im-i |
| 2sg | gel-ip | gel-me-diğ-in-i | gel-me-yeceğ-in-i |
| 3sg | gel-ip | gel-me-diğ-in-i | gel-me-yeceğ-in-i |
| 1pl | gel-ip | gel-me-diğ-imiz-i | gel-me-yeceğ-imiz-i |
| 2pl | gel-ip | gel-me-diğ-iniz-i | gel-me-yeceğ-iniz-i |
| 3pl | gel-ip | gel-me-dik-ler-in-i | gel-me-yecek-ler-in-i |
The affirmative branch (-Ip) does not carry a person suffix — person is marked only once, on the negative branch. The two branches share the same stem; only the negative branch carries the nominaliser and possessive.
Wh-indirect questions: wh-word + -DIK/-AcAK + possessive + accusative
Keep the question word in place. Nominalise the verb with -DIK (present/past) or -AcAK (future), add the possessive suffix for the embedded subject, then the accusative -(y)I when the clause is a direct object.
| person (embedded subject) | present/past ref. (-DIK) | future ref. (-AcAK) |
|---|---|---|
| 1sg | gel-diğ-im-i | gel-eceğ-im-i |
| 2sg | gel-diğ-in-i | gel-eceğ-in-i |
| 3sg | gel-diğ-in-i | gel-eceğ-in-i |
| 1pl | gel-diğ-imiz-i | gel-eceğ-imiz-i |
| 2pl | gel-diğ-iniz-i | gel-eceğ-iniz-i |
| 3pl | gel-dik-ler-in-i | gel-ecek-ler-in-i |
examples in context
common pitfalls
Keeping mI in a reported yes/no question.
Learners sometimes write gelip gelmeyeceğimi mi sordu or embed mI inside the clause. The mI particle belongs only to direct questions. In an indirect yes/no question it is dropped completely; the -Ip …-mA alternation carries the yes/no contrast on its own.
✗ Gelecek mi olduğunu sordu.
✓ Gelip gelmeyeceğini sordu.
Leaving the wh-question verb finite.
A common error is to leave the embedded verb in a finite tense form, as in a direct question: Ne zaman geleceksin sordu. The embedded verb must be nominalised — it cannot carry a finite person-tense ending. Replace the finite form with the -DIK/-AcAK nominalisation.
✗ Ne zaman geleceksin sordu.
✓ Ne zaman geleceğini sordu.
Mis-ordering the -Ip frame.
The affirmative branch always comes first (stem + -Ip), and the negative branch always comes second (stem + -mA- + nominaliser + possessive + accusative). Reversing the order — placing the negative branch first — is ungrammatical. Person and tense are marked only on the negative branch; the affirmative branch carries no such suffixes.
✗ Gelmeyeceğimi gelip sordu.
✓ Gelip gelmeyeceğimi sordu.