Use çekmek to pull an object and recognise two everyday combinations: fotoğraf çekmek for taking photos and para çekmek for withdrawing money.
The idea
The object helps identify the meaning: ipi çekmek is to pull the string, while fotoğraf çekmek means to take photos. A specific object takes the accusative, as in ipi; general fotoğraf and para stay unmarked here. The stem keeps its k: çekiyorum, çekerim. Learn the past çektim and future çekeceğim alongside them; only the future ending’s k becomes ğ in that last form. The table shows explicit plural forms for onlar; with a human plural subject, singular verb forms are also possible.
| Pronoun | Present continuous | Past | Future | Aorist (habit) | Negative present |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ben | çekiyorum | çektim | çekeceğim | çekerim | çekmiyorum |
| sen | çekiyorsun | çektin | çekeceksin | çekersin | çekmiyorsun |
| o | çekiyor | çekti | çekecek | çeker | çekmiyor |
| biz | çekiyoruz | çektik | çekeceğiz | çekeriz | çekmiyoruz |
| siz | çekiyorsunuz | çektiniz | çekeceksiniz | çekersiniz | çekmiyorsunuz |
| onlar | çekiyorlar | çektiler | çekecekler | çekerler | çekmiyorlar |
Examples
- Ben ipi çekiyorum.I am pulling the string.
- Biz halatı çektik.We pulled the rope.
- Yarın fotoğraf çekeceğim.I will take photos tomorrow.
- Bankadan para çekiyoruz.We are withdrawing money from the bank.
- Burada fotoğraf çekmiyorum.I am not taking photos here.
- Bu kapıyı kendine doğru çek.Pull this door towards you.
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Watch out
Do not translate “take a photo” word for word as fotoğraf almak: use fotoğraf çekmek when operating a camera. For physical movement, çekmek is pulling and itmek is pushing; switching them reverses the instruction.
Try it yourself
Complete: I am pulling the string now.
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çekiyorum
çekiyorum: şimdi places the action in progress, and ben requires the first-person ending. The root-final k stays before the vowel in -iyor.
Complete in the past: We pulled the rope yesterday.
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çektik
çektik: dün and the past-tense instruction place this action yesterday. The voiceless k requires t, and final -k identifies biz.
Complete in the future: I will take photos tomorrow.
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çekeceğim
çekeceğim: yarın and the future instruction call for a future form. Add the first-person ending to çekecek; the ending’s final k softens, while the stem’s k remains.
Give a direct instruction to one person: Pull this door towards you.
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çek
çek: the direct singular command uses the bare stem. Kendine doğru supplies the direction towards the listener, so pushing would contradict the instruction.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Complete: I am pulling the string now.
Complete in the past: We pulled the rope yesterday.
Complete in the future: I will take photos tomorrow.
Give a direct instruction to one person: Pull this door towards you.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Write one instruction about a door, one sentence about yesterday’s photos and one plan to withdraw money. Choose the meaning first, then the person and tense.