ebilabilir

Ebilabilir is a Turkish grammatical form used to express possibility or ability. It belongs to the potential mood, which is formed by attaching the suffix -ebil- (with the variant -abil- depending on vowel harmony) to a verb stem, and then adding the appropriate person and tense endings. The base infinitive is built with the verb stem plus -ebilmek, meaning “to be able to.” When the suffix is combined with a verb, it yields forms such as yapabilir, görebilir, or gidebilir, which translate roughly as “can do,” “can see,” or “can go.” The specific spelling alternates between -ebilir and -abilir in present-tense constructions, according to Turkish vowel harmony rules.

Usage and meaning are context-dependent. The ebil form expresses ability (capability) in the present or future, and it can also convey possibility or probability in certain contexts. It is commonly used without an auxiliary verb to indicate that someone or something may be able to perform an action. Negative and interrogative forms are constructed in the same way as other Turkish verbs, for example: yapabilir mi? (Can he do it?), yapamayabilir (might not be able to do), gelebilirler (they may be able to come).

Distinctions: ebil- / -abilir- forms are distinct from obligations or necessities expressed with other modals or with “gerekmek” or “zorunda olmak.” They specifically denote ability or likelihood rather than obligation or duty.

See also: Turkish grammar, -ebil/-abil suffix, modal verbs in Turkish, potential mood.