🌟 How to Express “Can’t” in Turkish: -Ama/-Eme Suffixes Explained 🌟

In Turkish, the inability to do something is expressed using the suffixes -ama/-eme (similar to “can’t” in English). The choice between -ama and -eme depends on vowel harmony, while the personal suffix changes based on the subject.

🔍 Grammar Rules:

1. -ama/-eme is added to the verb root.

2. The choice between -a or -e follows major vowel harmony (based on the last vowel of the verb stem).

   • If the last vowel is a, ı, o, u → -ama

   • If the last vowel is e, i, ö, ü → -eme

3. Personal suffixes are added afterward (they also follow vowel harmony).

📌 Personal Suffixes:

📊 Examples Table (Verb Stems + -Ama/-Eme + Personal Suffixes)

❓ Why -ama or -eme?

The suffix changes based on the last vowel in the verb root:

• Back vowels (a, ı, o, u) → -ama

  • “Koş” (o) → Koş+ama+m = Koşamam

• Front vowels (e, i, ö, ü) → -eme

  • “Gör” (ö) → Gör+eme+m = Göremem

🔄 Personal Suffix Adjustments:

• Ben (I): -m

  • “Yaz+ama+m” → Yazamam

• Sen (You): -z + sin

  • “Gel+eme+z+sin” → Gelemezsin

• O (He/She/It): -z

  • “Koş+ama+z” → Koşamaz

🌈 More Examples with Emojis:

• 🏃‍♂️ “Koşamıyorum!” → “I can’t run!”

• 👀 “Göremiyorsun!” → “You can’t see!”

• ✍️ “Yazamıyorum.” → “I can’t write.”

• 🚶‍♂️ “Gelemiyor.” → “He can’t come.”

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