hiç kimse / hiçbir şey
Nobody and Nothing
In Turkish, words like 'nobody' and 'nothing' require the verb to also be negative. This is called negative concord. Hiç kimse means 'nobody' and hiçbir şey means 'nothing'.
How It Works
To become proficient in using 'nobody' or 'nothing' in Turkish, follow these rules:
- Negative Concord: In Turkish, these words require a negative environment. You must use a negative verb ending in -me/-ma, the negative existential yok, or the negative copula değil.
- Questions: Unlike English 'anyone/anything', these Turkish terms maintain their negative force in questions. A question like Hiçbir şey mi yemedin? means 'Did you eat nothing?'. For a general 'Did you eat anything?', Turkish usually drops 'hiç' and uses bir şey.
- Adjectival Use: The word hiçbir can also be used as an adjective before other nouns to mean 'no' or 'not any', such as hiçbir yer (nowhere) or hiçbir adam (no man).
- Spelling: Hiçbir is always written as one word. Şey and kimse are always separate words.
- Case Endings: These phrases function as nouns. If they are the object of a verb, they must take the appropriate case, such as the accusative case or dative case.
Examples (6)
- Hiç kimse gelmedi.
Nobody came.
Word by Word: At-all who-person did-not-come.
Notice that the verb 'gelmedi' is negative. In a statement, you must use the negative form to express 'nobody'.
- Dolapta hiçbir şey yok.
There is nothing in the cupboard.
Word by Word: In-the-cupboard at-all-one thing there-is-not.
Here, yok provides the necessary negation for 'hiçbir şey'.
- Hiçbir şey imkansız değil.
Nothing is impossible.
Word by Word: At-all-one thing impossible not.
The word değil is used here to create the negative concord required by 'hiçbir şey'.
- Hiç kimseye söyleme.
Don't tell anyone.
Word by Word: At-all who-person-to do-not-tell.
The word 'kimse' takes the dative case suffix '-ye' because the verb 'söylemek' (to tell) requires it.
- Hiçbir şeyi beğenmedim.
I didn't like anything (of these).
Word by Word: At-all-one thing-(acc) I-did-not-like.
The accusative case '-yi' is added to 'şey' to indicate a specific object being disliked.
- Hiçbir şey mi yemedin?
Did you eat nothing at all?
Word by Word: At-all-one thing [question] you-did-not-eat?
In questions, these terms still require a negative verb. This sentence emphasizes the 'nothingness' of the action.
Common Mistakes
Using a positive verb in a declarative statement with 'hiç kimse' or 'hiçbir şey'.
Hiç kimse biliyor.Hiç kimse bilmiyor.In standard declarative sentences, negative pronouns require a negative verb. You cannot use a positive verb like 'biliyor' (knows) to mean 'nobody knows'.
Incorrect spelling of 'hiçbir şey'.
Hiç bir şey / hiçbirşeyHiçbir şey'Hiçbir' is a compound word and must be written together, while 'şey' is always a separate word.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'hiç kimse' and 'hiçbir şey', you first need to understand the adverb 'hiç', which triggers negative verb forms. You also need to be familiar with the basic interrogatives 'kim' (who) and 'ne' (what) as they form the basis for 'nobody' and 'nothing' respectively.
Related Patterns
- yokThere Is Not
The negative existential used frequently with 'hiçbir şey' to mean 'there is nothing'.
Level 1 - -me/-ma (olumsuzluk eki)The Negative Suffix
The mandatory negative suffix required on the verb when using 'hiç kimse' or 'hiçbir şey'.
Level 2 - biri / birisi / kimseSomeone and Anyone
These are the non-emphatic versions meaning 'someone' or 'anyone'.
Level 2 - ne ... neNeither ... nor
Another way to express negation ('neither... nor'), though it typically uses a positive verb.
Level 3 - bazı / her / bütünSome, Every, All
Quantifiers that represent the opposite concepts (some, every, all).
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice hiç kimse / hiçbir şey in Bubblegum
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