Build passive verbs when the sentence focuses on what happens to something. This page practises the four vowel forms; stems ending in a vowel or l belong to the companion passive suffix lesson.
The idea
After a consonant other than l, use -ıl after a/ı, -il after e/i, -ul after o/u and -ül after ö/ü. Start with the verb stem, then add the passive and the tense: yap + ıl + dı → yapıldı. For a dictionary form, put -mak/-mek after the passive instead: açılmak. The consonants in yap and aç stay unchanged, but etmek gives edilmek: kontrol edildi means “was checked”.
| Last stem vowel | Passive suffix | Infinitive → passive infinitive |
|---|---|---|
| a, ı | -ıl | yapmak → yapılmak; açmak → açılmak |
| e, i | -il | seçmek → seçilmek |
| o, u | -ul | kurmak → kurulmak |
| ö, ü | -ül | görmek → görülmek |
Examples
- Köprü geçen yıl yapıldı.The bridge was built last year.
- Pencere az önce açıldı.The window was opened just now.
- Biletler dün kontrol edildi.The tickets were checked yesterday.
- yapıldıwas madeyapılPassive suffix: -ıl / -il / -ul / -üldı-di, -dı, -du, -dü, -ti: the past (geldi, yaptı)
- açıldıwas openedaçılPassive suffix: -ıl / -il / -ul / -üldı-di, -dı, -du, -dü, -ti: the past (geldi, yaptı)
- seçildiwas chosenseçilPassive suffix: -ıl / -il / -ul / -üldi-di, -dı, -du, -dü, -ti: the past (geldi, yaptı)
- kurulduwas set upkurulPassive suffix: -ıl / -il / -ul / -üldu-di, -dı, -du, -dü, -ti: the past (geldi, yaptı)
- görüldüwas seengörülPassive suffix: -ıl / -il / -ul / -üldü-di, -dı, -du, -dü, -ti: the past (geldi, yaptı)
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Watch out
Do not attach the passive to the complete infinitive: yapmakıl is not a verb form. Remove -mak first. Also look at the stem’s last sound before choosing this suffix family: vowel-final and l-final stems take the other passive pattern.
Try it yourself
Make yapmak (to make) passive. Write the infinitive.
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yapılmak
yapılmak: removing -mak exposes yap. Its a selects -ıl, and the infinitive ending returns after the passive, giving the meaning “to be made”.
Make seçmek (to choose) passive. Write the infinitive.
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seçilmek
seçilmek: the stem is seç, whose e calls for unrounded front i. Keep ç unchanged; changing it to c would misspell this verb.
Make kurmak (to set up) passive. Write the infinitive.
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kurulmak
kurulmak: the relevant vowel is the u in kur, not the a in the dictionary ending. That rounded back vowel gives -ul, followed by -mak.
Complete with the passive past of görmek: This picture was seen yesterday.
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görüldü
görüldü: gör first becomes görül. The past ending then follows ü and voiced l, so it is -dü. The picture receives the action; it does not see anything.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Make yapmak (to make) passive. Write the infinitive.
Make seçmek (to choose) passive. Write the infinitive.
Make kurmak (to set up) passive. Write the infinitive.
Complete with the passive past of görmek: This picture was seen yesterday.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the parts in order to build this word: was made
Tap the parts in order to build this word: was opened
Keep your progress
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Write three short reports about things made, opened or seen yesterday. Split each passive verb into stem, passive suffix and past ending; check harmony at both joins.