Birisi kapıyı çaldı.
English: Someone knocked on the door.
- Language
- Turkish
- Level
- B2
- Unit
- Zamirler, nesneler ve uyum
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
In Turkish, 'belgisiz zamirler' are indefinite pronouns. They are used to refer to people or things in a general, non-specific way.
When to use it
Use belgisiz zamirler in Turkish when you talk about people or things without naming them exactly. They are helpful when you don't know, don't want to say, or don't need to specify who or what you mean.
Key forms
- biri
- birisi
- herkes
- kimse
- bazı
- hiçbiri
- bazıları
- çoğu
Examples
Kimse gelmedi.
English: No one came.
Bazıları bu filmi seviyor.
English: Some (people) like this movie.
Herkes hazır mı?
English: Is everyone ready?
Hiçbiri doğru değil.
English: None of them is correct.
Tips
- Do not confuse 'biri' (someone) with 'bir' (a/an, one).
- Remember that 'kimse' can mean 'someone' in questions and 'no one' in negative sentences.
- Most belgisiz zamirler are written as one word.
Exceptions and edge cases
- The meaning of 'kimse' changes depending on whether the sentence is negative or interrogative.