-iş (ad-fiil)

Nouns of Manner with -iş

Level 5

The -iş suffix turns a verb into a noun that focuses on the manner or style of the action (e.g., 'walking' vs. 'the way of walking').

How It Works

The -iş suffix (known as tarz ad-fiili) is a sophisticated tool for describing how something happens.

1. Manner vs. Action:
The most important distinction is between the general action and the style of the action.

  • Yürüme: The act of walking (e.g., 'Walking is healthy').
  • Yürüyüş: The manner of walking (e.g., 'I like your gait/walk').

2. Lexicalized Nouns:
Many words ending in -iş have become standard nouns where the 'manner' meaning is now a fixed concept:

  • Giriş (Entrance)
  • Çıkış (Exit)
  • Satış (Sale)
  • Uçuş (Flight)

3. Grammar Rules:

  • It attaches to the verb stem: bak- + -ış = bakış (a look/perspective).
  • If the stem ends in a vowel, use -y-: oku- + -y- + -uş = okuyuş (way of reading).
  • It can take possessive endings and case endings just like any other noun.

Examples (5)

  1. Onun bu olaya bakışı hepimizi şaşırttı.

    His way of looking at (perspective on) this event surprised us all.

    Word by Word: His this event-to look-manner all-of-us-acc surprised.

    Here, 'bakış' refers to the specific perspective or viewpoint, not just the physical act of looking.

  2. Gülüşü bana annemi hatırlatıyor.

    The way she smiles reminds me of my mother.

    Word by Word: Smile-manner-her me-to mother-my-acc reminds.

    The suffix -iş focuses on the unique quality of the smile.

  3. Uçağın inişi sırasında kemerlerinizi bağlı tutun.

    Keep your belts fastened during the landing of the plane.

    Word by Word: Plane-gen landing-manner-its during belts-your-acc tied keep.

    'İniş' refers to the process/manner of descending/landing.

  4. Yazışını çok beğeniyorum, çok okunaklı.

    I really like your handwriting; it's very legible.

    Word by Word: Write-manner-your-acc very I-like, very legible.

    Using -iş here specifies the 'style' of writing (handwriting) rather than the act of writing a letter.

  5. Bu binanın girişi nerede?

    Where is the entrance of this building?

    Word by Word: This building-gen entrance-its where?

    'Giriş' is a lexicalized noun derived from 'girmek' (to enter).

Common Mistakes

  • Using -ma when you mean the 'manner' of an action.

    Senin yürümeni seviyorum.
    Senin yürüyüşünü seviyorum.

    'Yürümeni seviyorum' means 'I like that you walk.' 'Yürüyüşünü seviyorum' means 'I like the way you walk (your gait).'

  • Forgetting the -y- buffer consonant for vowel-ending stems.

    Onun okuişu çok hızlı.
    Onun okuyuşu çok hızlı.

    When a verb stem ends in a vowel like 'oku-', you must use the -y- buffer before adding -uş.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-iş (ad-fiil)Level 5Nouns of Manner with -iş

Learn This First

The -iş suffix creates nouns that describe the 'manner' or 'way' an action is performed. To use it correctly, learners must understand four-way vowel harmony for the suffix itself and be familiar with how Turkish turns verbs into nouns (verbal nouns). Since these nouns are often used to describe personal traits or specific instances, knowledge of possessive suffixes is also necessary.

Words in This Pattern

-iş