You will distinguish a selection from a small number, even when both descriptions fit the same situation. The contrast also survives in expressions meaning “some of these books” and “a few of these books”.
The idea
Bazı picks out members of a group without saying how many or implying that their number is small: bazı kutular. Birkaç presents a small, unspecified number: birkaç kutu. With the ordinary count nouns here, use a plural noun after bazı and an unmarked noun after birkaç. Compare bazı günler (on some days) with birkaç gün (for a few days). Bu kitapların bazıları and bu kitapların birkaçı both refer to a known set; only the latter emphasizes a small number. See the linked plural and possessive lessons for the forms.
| bazı | birkaç |
|---|---|
| bazı kutular | birkaç kutu |
| bazı günler | birkaç gün |
| bu kitapların bazıları | bu kitapların birkaçı |
Examples
- Bazı kutular hâlâ boş.Some boxes are still empty.
- Birkaç kutu hâlâ boş.A few boxes are still empty.
- Bazı günler evde çalışıyorum.I work from home on some days.
- Birkaç gün evde çalışacağım.I will work from home for a few days.
- Bazı katılımcılar öneriye itiraz etti, ama kaç kişi olduklarını bilmiyorum.Some participants objected to the proposal, but I do not know how many people there were.
- Birkaç katılımcı öneriye itiraz etti; sayı beşi geçmedi.A few participants objected to the proposal; their number did not exceed five.
- Bu kitapların bazıları başlangıç için fazla ayrıntılı.Some of these books are too detailed for a beginner.
- Bu kitapların birkaçını hafta sonu okuyacağım.I will read a few of these books at the weekend.
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Watch out
Do not translate every “some” as birkaç: bazı katılımcılar does not tell you that there were only a few participants. Conversely, write birkaç kitap, not birkaç kitaplar. The word birkaç is written together and does not mean an exact number such as three.
Try it yourself
Choose bazı or birkaç without changing the plural dosyalar: some files are missing.
Show answer or example answer
bazı
Bazı: the missing files are a subset; dosyalar is already plural. Birkaç would require changing it to dosya and would add a small-number meaning.
Choose bazı or birkaç for a short wait: please wait a few minutes.
Show answer or example answer
birkaç
Birkaç: the request concerns a short wait measured in minutes. Dakika stays unmarked even though more than one minute is meant.
Rewrite bazı kitaplar to emphasize a small number of books. Change the noun form too.
Show answer or example answer
birkaç kitap
Birkaç kitap: the new message concerns a small number of books, so both the determiner and the plural noun must change. Replacing only bazı would leave an unsuitable plural.
Complete “showed me …” with bazı örnekler or birkaç örnek. Either meaning is possible; write one valid phrase.
Show answer or example answer
bazı örnekler / birkaç örnek
Bazı örnekler / birkaç örnek: both complete the sentence. The first selects examples without specifying a small number; the second presents the examples as few. The context gives no reason to reject either.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Choose bazı or birkaç without changing the plural dosyalar: some files are missing.
Choose bazı or birkaç for a short wait: please wait a few minutes.
Rewrite bazı kitaplar to emphasize a small number of books. Change the noun form too.
Complete “showed me …” with bazı örnekler or birkaç örnek. Either meaning is possible; write one valid phrase.
bazı örnekler / birkaç örnek
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe the same collection twice, first selecting members with bazı, then emphasizing a small number with birkaç. Add a sentence about some days and one about a period of a few days.