Use these endings to describe what happens to tickets, tables or laundry without naming the person doing the work. Start from the verb stem, not the dictionary form ending in -mak or -mek.
The idea
After a stem ending in l, add -ın after a/ı, -in after e/i, -un after o/u, or -ün after ö/ü. Keep the stem’s l: al → alın, bil → bilin. After a vowel, add only -n: yıka → yıkan. Add the infinitive or tense next: alınmak, alındı. Other consonant endings use the passive forms taught on the -ıl/-il/-ul/-ül page.
| Stem ends in | Last vowel | Passive suffix | Infinitive |
|---|---|---|---|
| l | a / ı | -ın | al → alınmak |
| l | e / i | -in | bil → bilinmek |
| l | o / u | -un | bul → bulunmak |
| l | ö / ü | -ün | böl → bölünmek |
| a / e / ı / i / o / ö / u / ü | — | -n | yıka → yıkanmak |
Examples
- Biletler dün alındı.The tickets were bought yesterday.
- Masa sabah silindi.The table was wiped in the morning.
- Çamaşırlar bugün yıkandı.The laundry was washed today.
- alınmakto be taken; to be boughtalın-ın / -in / -un / -ün / -n: passive endingsmak-mek / -mak: the infinitive
- bilinmekto be knownbilin-ın / -in / -un / -ün / -n: passive endingsmek-mek / -mak: the infinitive
- bulunmakto be foundbulun-ın / -in / -un / -ün / -n: passive endingsmak-mek / -mak: the infinitive
- bölünmekto be dividedbölün-ın / -in / -un / -ün / -n: passive endingsmek-mek / -mak: the infinitive
- yıkanmakto be washed (passive use)yıkan-ın / -in / -un / -ün / -n: passive endingsmak-mek / -mak: the infinitive
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Watch out
Do not replace the final l or add another l when forming these passives. Also, -n alone does not prove that a verb is passive: Çamaşırlar yıkandı means the laundry was washed, while Çocuk yıkandı can mean the child washed themself. Read the subject and context.
Try it yourself
Use the passive past: The ticket was bought online.
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alındı
alındı: the ticket receives the action of buying. The stem al keeps its l, takes -ın because of a, then -dı for the completed past action.
Use the passive past: The board was wiped after class.
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silindi
silindi: the board receives the wiping action. In sil + in + di, the stem keeps its final l and both added vowels follow the front unrounded i; -di places the event in the past.
Use the passive past: The cake was divided into pieces.
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bölündü
bölündü: the cake was divided into pieces. The rounded front vowel ö gives -ün; the following past ending is -dü, producing böl + ün + dü.
Use the passive past: The curtains were washed yesterday.
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yıkandı
yıkandı: the curtains were washed by someone. The stem is yıka, already ending in a vowel, so attach n directly and then -dı: yıka + n + dı.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Use the passive past: The ticket was bought online.
Use the passive past: The board was wiped after class.
Use the passive past: The cake was divided into pieces.
Use the passive past: The curtains were washed 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: to be taken; to be bought
Tap the parts in order to build this word: to be known
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Write a short report about yesterday’s chores using almak, silmek and yıkamak in the passive past. Circle each passive ending and underline the tense ending after it.