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Necessity
Just like in English, there are a number of ways to express need in Turkish, such as 'I need to.....', 'I have to.....' and 'I must......'.
'Meli' = 'must'
To make a sentence using this word, such as 'i must go', you must follow this formula;
verb + - meli/malı- + personal 'to be' suffix
examples
git + meli + yim = gitmeliyim = i must go
gel + meli + sin = gelmelisin = you (singular/familiar) must come
gelmeli = he/she/it must come
gelmeliyiz = we must come
gelmelisiniz = you (plural/polite) must come
gelmeliler = they must come
'Lazım' = 'have to'
To make a sentence using this word, such as 'i have to go' in Turkish, you must follow this formula;
verb + -me/ma- + personal possessive suffix + 'lazım'
examples
git + me + m + lazım = 'gitmem lazım' = 'i have to go'
gel + me + n + lazım = 'gelmen lazım' = 'you have to come'
kal + ma + mız + lazım = 'kalmamız lazım' = 'we have to stay'
To make these sentences into negative questions in Turkish, such as 'I don't have to go', add 'değil' after 'lazım'
examples
gitmem lazım değil = i don't have to go
olman lazım değil = you don't have to be
In order to express a need for yourself or someone else, the person or thing who is in need takes the dative suffix '-(y)e/a'.
examples
bana araba lazım = i need a car
sana para lazım = you need money
sana araba lazım mı? = do you need a car?
'gerek' can be used instead of 'lazım' to express a need, however it is used differently than 'lazım' as it is used in the present continuous tense.
examples
gelmem gerekiyor = i have to come
gelmem gerekmiyor = i don't have to come
olman gerekiyor = you have to be
To test yourself on what you've just learnt, click here.
