Necessity in Turkish (Gereklilik Kipi meli/malı)

Necessity in Turkish (Gereklilik Kipi meli/malı)

Necessity in Turkish (Gereklilik Kipi meli/malı) generally give the meaning of necessity, obligation, advice. This construct is called the “gereklilik kipi” (necessity, obligation) in Turkish. It is often used similar meanings to the “should” in English. Again this structure doesn’t have time meaning. But it can be used with time suffixes. Apart from that, if the Necessity in Turkish (Gereklilik Kipi meli/malı) is used with the verb ol- (to be), it gives the verb the meaning of “guess”. Now first take a look at the example sentences below. (The suffixes shown in orange are the necessity suffixes.) Then read the grammar notes below about necessity in Turkish (Gereklilik Kipi meli/malı).

 

Sample Sentences

Geç olmadan önce bu işi bitirmelisin.

• You should finish this job before it’s too late.

Bence her hafta annesini aramalı.

• I think s/he should call his/her mom every week.

Kilo vermek için yediklerimize dikkat etmeliyiz.

• To lose weight, we should pay attention to what we eat.

Kütüphanede çalışmak istiyorsanız sessiz oturmalısınız.

• If you want to study in the library, you should sit quietly.

İşçiler artık işyerine daha erken gelmeliler.

• Workers should now come to the workplace earlier.

Hasta olmamak için terliyken su içmemeliyim.

• • I shouldn’t drink water when I’m sweaty so as not to get sick.

Misafirler zile basıyor olmalı.

• The guests may be ringing the bell.

Doktorluk zor bir meslek olmalı.

• Profession of a doctor may be a difficult profession.

 

Rules

Necessity in Turkish (Gereklilik Kipi meli/malı) appears in 2 different forms: -meli, -malı. As you guess, the correct suffix is preferred by the 2 way vowel harmony and is written at the end of the verb. Now review the images below to learn the correct order of suffixes.

• Uyumalıyım (I should sleep)
• Uyumalısın (You should sleep)
• Uyumalı (S/he/It should sleep)
• Semeliyiz (We should love)
• Sevmelisiniz (You should love)
• Sevmeliler (They should love)

• Uyumamalıyım (I shouldn’t sleep)
• Uyumamalısın (You shouldn’t sleep)
• Uyumamalı (S/he/ It shouldn’t sleep)
• Sevmemeliyiz (I shouln’t love)
• Sevmemelisiniz (You shouln’t love)
• Sevmemeliler (They shouln’t love)

• Uyumalı mıyım? (Should i sleep?)
• Uyumalı mısın? (Should you sleep?)
• Uyumalı mı? (Should s/he/It sleep?)
• Sevmeli miyiz? (Should we love?)
• Sevmeli misiniz? (Should you love?)
• Sevmeliler mi? (Should they love?)

• Uyumamalı mıyım? (Should not i sleep?)
• Uyumamalı mısın? (Should not you sleep?)
• Uyumamalı mı? (Should not s/he/It sleep?)
• Sevmemeli miyiz? (Should not we love)
• Sevmemeli misiniz? (Should not you love?)
• Sevmemeliler mi? (Should not they love?)

Necessity in Turkish (Gereklilik Kipi meli/malı) can also be used with the past tense. But in this usage, the meaning can change. When the past tense (di’li görülen geçmiş zaman) + necessity is used together, it can sometimes mean regret. Sometimes, “context” is used only to refer to necessity in the past. When the reported past tense (miş’li duyulan geçmiş zaman) + necessity is used together, it has the meaning of “hearing from someone else + necessity”.

• Uyumalıydım (I should have slept)
• Uyumalıydın (You should have slept)
• Uyumalıydı (S/he/It should have slept)
• Sevmeliydik (We should have loved)
• Sevmeliydiniz (You should have loved)
• Sevmeliydiler/Sevmelilerdi (They should have loved)

• Uyumamalıydım (I should not have slept)
• Uyumamalıydın (You should not have slept)
• Uyumamalıydı (S/he/It should not have slept)
• Sevmemeliydik (We should not have loved)
• Sevmemeliydiniz (You should not have loved)
• Sevmemeliydiler/Sevmelilerdi (They should not have loved)

• Uyumalıymışım (I should sleep)
• Uyumalıymışsın (You should sleep)
• Uyumalıymış (S/he/It should sleep)
• Sevmeliymişiz (We should love)
• Sevmeliymişsiniz (You should love)
• Sevmeliymişler/Sevmelilermiş (They should love)

• Uyumamalıymışım (I should not sleep)
• Uyumamalıymışsın (You should not sleep)
• Uyumamalıymış (S/he/It should not sleep)
• Sevmemeliymişiz (We should not love)
• Sevmemeliymişsiniz (You should not love)
• Sevmemeliymişler/Sevmemelilermiş (They should not love)

Now it’s your turn! Write min 10 sentences contains necessity in Turkish (Gereklilik Kipi meli/malı).

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