-eyim / -elim: let me, let’s (gideyim, gidelim)

The idea

Add -e or -a to the verb stem, then a person ending, to offer or suggest: gideyim (let me go, shall I go), gidelim (let’s go). The vowel follows the last vowel of the stem: -e after e i ö ü, -a after a ı o u. After a stem that ends in a vowel a buffer y comes first: oku-y-ayım, bekle-y-elim. Everyday Turkish uses mainly the ben and biz forms, -eyim and -elim; the others (-esin, -e, -esiniz, -eler) are rare and belong to wishes.

Examples

• Yarın seni arayayım mı?Shall I call you tomorrow?The stem ara- ends in a vowel, so the buffer y comes first: ara-y-ayım. Adding mı turns the offer into the question “shall I?”.
• Akşam sinemaya gidelim.Let’s go to the cinema this evening.The stem git- turns its t into d before a vowel: gid-elim, not gitelim. Most verbs do not change: yapalım.
• Çayı ben yapayım.Let me make the tea.
• Size yardım edeyim mi?Shall I help you?Like git-, et- turns its t into d: ed-eyim. Yardım etmek is written as two words, and only et- takes the ending.
• Pencereyi açmayalım.Let’s not open the window.The negative -ma- comes first; it ends in a vowel, so a y follows: aç-ma-yalım. The same holds for -eyim: açmayayım.
• Bu kitabı sana vereyim.Let me give you this book.
• Biraz dinlenelim mi?Shall we rest a little?
• gidebileyimthat I may be able to gogid·ebil-ebil- / -abil-: can and may (gelebilirim)·eyim-eyim / -elim: let me, let’s (gideyim, gidelim)
• görebileyimthat I may be able to seegör·ebil-ebil- / -abil-: can and may (gelebilirim)·eyim-eyim / -elim: let me, let’s (gideyim, gidelim)
• gelebilelimthat we may be able to comegel·ebil-ebil- / -abil-: can and may (gelebilirim)·elim-eyim / -elim: let me, let’s (gideyim, gidelim)

Watch out

The final t of git- and et- softens: gideyim, gidelim, edeyim, never gitelim; other verbs keep theirs: yapalım, atalım. And -eyim is an offer, not a plan: for what you will do, use -ecek, as in yarın gideceğim.

Try it yourself

1. Add the ending: let me carry the bag.

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   taşıyayım

   taşıyayım: taşı- ends in a vowel, so the buffer y comes first; the last vowel ı is back, so -a-; -yım is the ben ending.

2. Add the ending: come on, let’s go out to eat tonight.

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   gidelim

   gidelim: git- turns into gid-; its vowel i is front, so -e-, and -lim is the biz ending.

3. Add the ending: let me bring you a glass of water.

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   getireyim

   getireyim: getir ends in the consonant r, so no buffer is needed; the last vowel i is front, so -e-, and -yim is the ben ending.

4. Add the endings: let’s not talk in the classroom.

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   konuşmayalım

   konuşmayalım: the negative -ma- comes first; it ends in the back vowel a, so a buffer y and -alım follow: -yalım.

Use it today

Write four short sentences for a friend who is visiting: two offers with -eyim and two suggestions with -elim. Check each stem’s last vowel, the buffer y and the softening of git-.