Use kesmek for cutting material or food, and recognise it in sözünü kesmek, interrupting someone. You will also distinguish who does the cutting from what gets cut off.
The idea
The stem kes- stays intact: kesiyorum, kestim, keseceğim, keserim. The past has t after s, while the aorist is keser. In the future, the ending has ğ in keseceğim and keseceğiz. A specific object takes the accusative: kartonu kesmek, ekmeği kesmek. The negative forms include kesmiyorum and the direct request kesme. In sözümü kesme, the object is my speech: “do not interrupt me”.
| Subject | Present continuous | Past | Future | Aorist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ben | kesiyorum | kestim | keseceğim | keserim |
| sen | kesiyorsun | kestin | keseceksin | kesersin |
| o | kesiyor | kesti | kesecek | keser |
| biz | kesiyoruz | kestik | keseceğiz | keseriz |
| siz | kesiyorsunuz | kestiniz | keseceksiniz | kesersiniz |
| onlar | kesiyorlar | kestiler | kesecekler | keserler |
Examples
- Ben kartonu kesiyorum.I am cutting the cardboard.
- Terziler kumaşı kesti.The tailors cut the fabric.
- Biz ekmeği keseceğiz.We will cut the bread.
- Bu bıçak ekmeği kolayca keser.This knife cuts the bread easily.
- Elektrikler dün akşam kesildi.The power went out yesterday evening.
- Lütfen sözümü kesme.Please do not interrupt me.
- Bu makas kalın kartonu kesmiyor.These scissors do not cut thick cardboard.
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Watch out
A power cut is Elektrikler kesildi, not Elektrikler kesti: the electricity is what is interrupted. Use kesmek when the subject cuts something; kesilmek puts what is cut or interrupted in the subject position. It does not tell you who caused the interruption.
Try it yourself
Complete with “I cut” in the past.
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kestim
kestim: yesterday calls for the past, and “I” requires final -m. After the voiceless s, the past ending begins with t: kes-ti-m.
Complete with “we will cut” in the future.
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keseceğiz
keseceğiz: tomorrow sets the future and “we” needs -iz. The k in kesecek becomes ğ before that vowel; keseceğim would mean “I will cut”.
Use the aorist: this knife cuts the bread easily.
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keser
keser: the sentence describes the knife’s general cutting performance, not one action in progress. The aorist of this verb uses -er, and a third-person singular subject needs no further person ending.
Choose the form that means the power went out.
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kesildi
kesildi: the sentence reports an interruption of the supply without naming an agent. The electricity does not cut something else; kesti would give it that active role.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Complete with “I cut” in the past.
Complete with “we will cut” in the future.
Use the aorist: this knife cuts the bread easily.
Choose the form that means the power went out.
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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Describe cutting cardboard now, cutting bread tomorrow and a power cut yesterday. Choose the subject before the verb. Then practise a request asking someone not to interrupt you.