Lessson 20
Verbs whose objects need –i, -e, –den endings
I believe this topic is one of the hardest grammar points in Turkish grammar, not for the native speakers but for the learners. This is similar to the way in which some English verbs are followed by a preposition, as out of and from in to to look out of, to deter from. When we use a verb with a noun, sometimes we need to add a suffix at the end of the noun. Some verbs’ objects do not take any endings.
Wrong: Sen seviyorum.
Right: Seni seviyorum.
Wrong: Araba in.
Right: Arabadan in.
Wrong: Duvar bak.
Right: Duvara bak.
Let’s have a look at them separately.
-i (-ı, -u, -ü)
We already mentioned this one in lesson 20. But I think it would be beneficial to talk about it again. This suffix sometimes named as direct object ending. –i will change to –ı, -u, -ü according to the last vowel in the word (vowel harmony).
sevmek takes –i, –ı, -u, -ü
Seni seviyorum.
İstanbul’u seviyorum.
Kuşları severim.
görmek takes –i, –ı, -u, -ü
Kızı parkta gördü. (He/she saw the girl in the park)
Gözleri sonunda *ışığı gördü. (His/her eyes saw the light at last.)
* ışık + ı = ışığı There is something special here that I have to mention. This will be explained in detail in the following lessons.
giymek takes –i, –ı, -u, -ü
Üstünü giy. (Put on your clothes)
anlamak takes –i, –ı, -u, -ü
Bu dersi anlıyorum. (I understand this lesson)
Mert’i anlıyorum. (I understand Mert)
Bu konuyu anladım. (I understood this subject)
-e (-a)
–e will change to –a according to the last vowel in the word (vowel harmony).
bakmak takes –e, -a
Öğretmene bakıyorsun. (You are looking at the teacher)
İstanbul boğazına bakıyorum. (I am looking at the Bosphoros)
sormak takes –a, -e
O konuyu müdüre soruyorum. (I am asking the manager about that subject)
Herşeyi Clare’e sorarım. (I ask everything to Clare.)
Some other verbs whose object takes –e, -a
basmak (to step on)
geçmek (to pass) oraya geç
bayılmak (to love doing sth)
bildirmek (to let someone know)
hatırlatmak (ro remind)
katılmak (to join)
kızmak (to be angry)
rastlamak (to meet by chance)
vurmak (to hit)
yardım etmek (to help)
-den, (-dan)
–den will change to –dan according to the last vowel in the word (vowel harmony).
bahsetmek takes -den, -dan
O konudan bahsetme. (Do not talk about that subject)
Bana o kızdan bahsetme. (Don’t tell me about that girl)
Anneannem her gün eski günlerden bahseder. (My grandmother talks about old days everyday)
bıkmak takes -den, -dan
Senden bıktım. (I fed up with you)
Buralardan bıktım. (I fed up with these places.)
Her gün aynı şeyleri *yapmaktan bıktım. (I fed up to do the same things everyday.)
*dan turned into tan because of the last letter “k” (it will be explained in the following lessons) I just want you to be aware of the changes.
Some other verbs whose object takes –den, -dan
geçmek (to pass) yoldan geç
inmek (to get off a vehicle)
hoşlanmak (to like)
kaçınmak (to avoid)
korkmak (to be afraid of)
nefret etmek (to hate)
özür dilemek (to apologise)