How to use ”ki” in Turkish?-GC1
Uses of “ki” in Turkish
“Ki” in Turkish has three main functions:
- As a suffix (-ki) to indicate possession or relation
- As a conjunction (ki) to connect two clauses
- As an intensifier in colloquial expressions
1. Possessive Suffix (-ki) → Indicates possession or relation
This “-ki” suffix is attached to nouns and functions like “of” or “belonging to” in English. It is commonly used with time, place, and objects.
| Turkish Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Evdeki kitapları okudum. | I read the books in the house. |
| Dünkü sınav çok zordu. | Yesterday’s exam was very difficult. |
| Arabadaki çanta benim. | The bag in the car is mine. |
| Okuldaki öğretmenler çok iyi. | The teachers at school are very good. |
2. Conjunction (ki) → Connects two clauses
This “ki” functions like “that” in English, connecting two parts of a sentence.
| Turkish Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Biliyorum ki bu işi başaracaksın. | I know that you will succeed in this job. |
| Duydum ki yeni bir işe başlamışsın. | I heard that you started a new job. |
| Söyledim ki unutmasınlar. | I told them so that they wouldn’t forget. |
| Öyle güzelsin ki gözlerimi alamıyorum. | You are so beautiful that I can’t take my eyes off you. |
3. Intensifier (ki) → Adds emphasis
In colloquial Turkish, “ki” is often used to emphasize emotions, similar to “so” or “such that” in English.
| Turkish Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|
| O kadar yoruldum ki uyuyakaldım. | I was so tired that I fell asleep. |
| Öyle hızlı koştu ki kimse yetişemedi. | He ran so fast that no one could catch him. |
| Çocuk o kadar küçük ki kalemi tutamıyor. | The child is so small that he can’t hold the pencil. |
| Film o kadar sıkıcıydı ki yarıda bıraktım. | The movie was so boring that I left it halfway. |