Turkish grammar · A1 · Lesson 19 of 29
Turkish Accusative Case: -ı, -i, -u, -ü
Belirtme Hâli (-i / -ı / -u / -ü)
When the object takes a suffix: kitap okuyorum vs. kitabı okuyorum
The object takes an ending only when it is definite: a specific one both speaker and listener have in mind. Kitap okuyorum: I am reading a book, any book. Kitabı okuyorum: I am reading the book, that one. The ending is what "the" does to an object.
Its vowel follows four-way harmony: -ı, -i, -u, -ü. After a vowel the bridge y steps in: araba → arabayı, kedi → kediyi.
Names and pronouns are always definite, so they always take it: Ali’yi gördüm, seni bekliyorum. A noun ending in p ç t k usually softens: kitap → kitabı.
Examples
Kitabı masaya koydum.
I put the book on the table.
Bu filmi izledin mi?
Have you watched this film?
Arabayı garaja park ettim.
I parked the car in the garage.