Elif arrives to meet Mert, but finds a note instead. Read the story once for the ending, then again to work out why she first goes to the wrong place.
The idea
Read the note as a clue, not a complete set of directions. In this story, büyük ağacın yanında means “beside the big tree”, but does not identify which tree. Compare the note with the waiter’s words before deciding where Mert is.
Read the text
Cumartesi öğleden sonra Elif, arkadaşı Mert’le buluşmak için çay bahçesine girdi. Saat üçtü. Masada küçük bir not vardı. Elif küçük notu okudu:
“Elif, bu masa çok güneşli. Büyük ağacın yanında seni bekliyorum. Mert.”
Elif bahçenin arkasına gitti. Orada büyük bir ağaç vardı ama ağacın yanında kimse yoktu. “Mert eve mi gitti?” diye düşündü. Bir garsona sordu: “Mert’i gördünüz mü?” Garson, “Evet, Mert burada. Girişte bir büyük ağaç daha var. Mert o ağacın yanında,” dedi.
Elif girişe yürüdü. Mert el salladı. Masasında iki bardak çay vardı. Elif güldü: “Notta sadece ‘büyük ağaç’ yazıyor. Ama bahçede iki büyük ağaç var!” Mert de güldü. “Haklısın. Bir dahaki sefere daha açık yazacağım,” dedi. İki arkadaş sonunda buluştu. Elif oturdu ve çayını içti.
Examples
- Elif küçük notu okudu.Elif read the little note.
- Mert girişte Elif'i bekledi.Mert waited for Elif at the entrance.
- İki arkadaş sonunda buluştu.The two friends finally met.
- Masada küçük bir not vardı.There was a little note on the table.
- Bu masa çok güneşli.This table is in a very sunny spot.
- Büyük ağacın yanında seni bekliyorum.I am waiting for you beside the big tree.
- Mert eve mi gitti?Did Mert go home?
- Bahçede iki büyük ağaç var.There are two big trees in the garden.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic Turkish voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No Turkish device voice is available. You can still read the text.
Watch out
The question Mert eve mi gitti? is Elif’s thought, not a fact reported by the narrator. Do not conclude that Mert went home just because she cannot see him.
Try it yourself
Where was the note? Answer with one Turkish word.
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masada
masada: the opening places the note on the table. Elif reads it before she walks to the back of the garden.
Why did Mert change places? Supply the two words from the note: Bu masa ___.
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çok güneşli
çok güneşli: Mert describes the table as too sunny for him. These two words complete the note and explain why he changed places.
Where did Mert wait: at the back of the garden or at the entrance? Answer in Turkish.
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girişte
girişte: the waiter points to another big tree at the entrance. Elif then goes there and sees Mert.
Elif did not find Mert at first. Complete: Elif yanlış ___ gitti.
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ağaca
ağaca: she first goes to the tree at the back, while Mert is at the entrance. The missing detail in the note sends her to the wrong tree.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Where was the note? Answer with one Turkish word.
Why did Mert change places? Supply the two words from the note: Bu masa ___.
Where did Mert wait: at the back of the garden or at the entrance? Answer in Turkish.
Elif did not find Mert at first. Complete: Elif yanlış ___ gitti.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Rewrite Mert’s note in two short Turkish sentences. Add the entrance as a location clue, then explain which misunderstanding your new note prevents.