VIEWS ON THE COMPLEMENTARY VERB (I-) IN TURKISH

There exist various much-debated issues in Turkish language regarding the grammar. Oneof those issues is the one regarding the topics of complementary verb and copula. Variousresources have put forward different opinions on the issue, however, cannot reach a consensus.This study first presents some information from several resources on complementary verb andcopula; and then talks about the historical process of the complementary verb. The study arguesthat the personal suffixes in the conjugation of present simple tense are not complementary verbsuffixes but personal suffixes. The study states that copula (+dır) occurs only in the third personsingular and third person plural; and that it may also occur in the first and second persons aswell. The study attempts to explain that copula is not a complementary verb, but a separatesuffix with a longstanding historical background.