de/da (bağlaç)

Also and Too

Level 2

The conjunction de/da is a separate word used to mean 'also' or 'too'. It follows two-way vowel harmony but never changes its starting consonant to 't', unlike the locative suffix.

How It Works

The Turkish conjunction de/da is one of the most versatile words in the language. To become proficient in its use, you must follow these rules:

1. Vowel Harmony:
It follows two-way vowel harmony based on the last vowel of the preceding word:

  • Use da after back vowels (a, ı, o, u). Example: Kitap da (The book too).
  • Use de after front vowels (e, i, ö, ü). Example: Kedi de (The cat too).

2. The 'No Hardening' and 'No Apostrophe' Rules:
Even if the preceding word ends in a 'hard' consonant, the conjunction never becomes te or ta. Furthermore, because it is a separate word, you never use an apostrophe to separate it from proper nouns (e.g., Ali de, not Ali'de). This helps distinguish it from the locative case.

3. The Focus Rule (Positional Meaning):
The meaning of the sentence changes depending on which word de/da follows. It emphasizes the word immediately before it. Compare:

  • Ben de elma yedim (I also ate an apple — someone else did, and so did I).
  • Ben elma da yedim (I ate an apple too — I ate other things, and an apple as well).

4. Nuances of 'Even' and 'But':
Beyond 'also', this word can imply persistence or contrast. In phrases like Çalıştım da başardım, it adds emphasis to the effort. When used with a negative, like Gittim de bulamadım (I went but couldn't find it), it acts like a soft 'but' or 'even though'.

5. The Word 'Or':
A common mistake is writing ya da (meaning 'or') as one word. Remember that it is always written as two separate words.

6. The Removal Test:
If you aren't sure if you should write it separately, try removing it. If the sentence still makes sense (even if the meaning changes), it is a conjunction and must be written separately.

Examples (6)

  1. Ben de elma yedim.

    I ate an apple too.

    Word by Word: I also apple ate.

    When 'de' follows 'ben', it emphasizes that the speaker, like someone else, ate an apple.

  2. Ben elma da yedim.

    I ate an apple as well.

    Word by Word: I apple also ate.

    When 'da' follows 'elma', it emphasizes that the speaker ate an apple in addition to other things.

  3. Okudum da anlamadım.

    I read it, but I didn't understand.

    Word by Word: I-read and/but I-did-not-understand.

    In this context, 'da' adds a sense of 'even though' or 'but', often used when expressing a complaint or unexpected result.

  4. Ali de bizimle geliyor.

    Ali is coming with us too.

    Word by Word: Ali also with-us coming-is.

    Notice that no apostrophe is used between 'Ali' and 'de' because it is a conjunction, not a suffix.

  5. Mutfak da temiz.

    The kitchen is also clean.

    Word by Word: Kitchen also clean.

    Even though 'mutfak' ends in 'k', the conjunction remains 'da' and does not become 'ta'.

  6. Elma ya da armut istiyorum.

    I want an apple or a pear.

    Word by Word: Apple or also pear I-want.

    The phrase 'ya da' (meaning 'or') is always written as two separate words.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing the conjunction as a suffix attached to the word.

    Bende geliyorum.
    Ben de geliyorum.

    'Bende' means 'on me' or 'at my place'. To say 'me too', you must write 'de' separately.

  • Changing 'de/da' to 'te/ta' after hard consonants.

    Kitap ta okudum.
    Kitap da okudum.

    The conjunction 'de/da' never changes its 'd' to a 't'. Only the locative suffix (-de/-da) undergoes consonant assimilation.

  • Using an apostrophe to separate the conjunction from a proper noun.

    Ali'de gelecek.
    Ali de gelecek.

    Unlike suffixes, the conjunction 'de/da' is a separate word. You should never use an apostrophe to separate it, even after names or places.

How It Connects

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de/da (bağlaç)Level 2Also and Too

Learn This First

To use the conjunction 'de/da' correctly, you need to understand Two-Way Vowel Harmony to choose between 'de' and 'da'. It is also essential to distinguish this separate word from the locative case suffix, particularly noting that the conjunction never undergoes consonant assimilation (it never becomes 'te' or 'ta').

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