Build a causative verb from a familiar stem, then add an infinitive or a past ending. The focus here is the short suffix and its spelling.
The idea
Remove -mak or -mek first. Stems of more than one syllable ending in a vowel, l or r generally take -t: oku → okut, incel → incelt, otur → oturt. This suffix has only one shape and no vowel to harmonise. Add later endings to the new stem: okutmak, bekletmek. Do not insert a linking vowel or y before -t.
| Stem | Causative suffix | New stem | Infinitive |
|---|---|---|---|
| oku | -t | okut | okutmak |
| bekle | -t | beklet | bekletmek |
| anla | -t | anlat | anlatmak |
| otur | -t | oturt | oturtmak |
| incel | -t | incelt | inceltmek |
Examples
- Annem bize kısa bir metin okuttu.My mother had us read a short text.
- Misafirleri kapıda beklettim.I kept the guests waiting at the door.
- Babam misafirleri salona oturttu.My father seated the guests in the living room.
- okutmakto have someone readokutShort causative: making something happenmak-mek / -mak: the infinitive
- beklettimI kept someone waitingbekletShort causative: making something happenti-di, -dı, -du, -dü, -ti: the past (geldi, yaptı)mPast person endings: -m, -n, -k, -niz, -ler
- oturttumI seated someoneoturtShort causative: making something happentu-di, -dı, -du, -dü, -ti: the past (geldi, yaptı)mPast person endings: -m, -n, -k, -niz, -ler
- inceltmekto make something thinnerinceltShort causative: making something happenmek-mek / -mak: the infinitive
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
Keep both consonants in beklettim: the first t makes the verb causative; the second starts the past ending. Bekledim means “I waited”, while beklettim means “I kept someone waiting”. The causative t also stays unchanged before a vowel: okutuyor.
Try it yourself
Turn okumak into a causative infinitive: to have someone read.
Show answer or example answer
okutmak
okutmak: start with oku, add the causative and restore the infinitive. The last vowel is u, so the infinitive ends in -mak; the meaning is now to have someone read.
Complete: I kept you waiting a little. Use the causative of beklemek in the first-person past.
Show answer or example answer
beklettim
beklettim: you caused the other person to wait. Build bekle + t + ti + m: the past begins with t after the voiceless causative, and e selects i.
Complete: I seated the guests on the sofa. Use the causative of oturmak in the first-person past.
Show answer or example answer
oturttum
oturttum: you seated the guests. In otur + t + tu + m, the last vowel u selects -tu; dropping the causative would give oturdum, “I sat down”.
Turn incelmek into a causative infinitive: to make something thinner, for example dough.
Show answer or example answer
inceltmek
inceltmek: incelmek means to become thinner; inceltmek means to make something thinner. The two-syllable stem ends in l, and its last vowel e keeps -mek.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Turn okumak into a causative infinitive: to have someone read.
Complete: I kept you waiting a little. Use the causative of beklemek in the first-person past.
Complete: I seated the guests on the sofa. Use the causative of oturmak in the first-person past.
Turn incelmek into a causative infinitive: to make something thinner, for example dough.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the parts in order to build this word: to have someone read
Tap the parts in order to build this word: I kept someone waiting
Keep your progress
Sign up for free to save your practice results in your account.
Sign up to saveI already have an accountUse it today
Use okumak, beklemek and oturmak to write three past-tense sentences about someone causing an action. Divide each verb into stem, causative, tense and person where present.