Learn Hardcore Turkish: Sakal kesmek kesinlikle kişiyi farklı gösteriyor, bazen insanlar tanımakta zorlanıyor. - Shaving a beard definitely makes a person look different; sometimes people have difficulty recognizing him.

Sakal kesmek literally means “to cut the beard.” In Turkish, this phrase is commonly used to describe the act of shaving one’s beard. The structure—using the infinitive kesmek—allows the entire phrase to function as a noun that denotes an action, much like using the gerund “shaving” in English.

Why is kişiyi in the accusative case, and what role does it play in the sentence?

The word kişiyi comes from kişi (meaning person) and is marked with the accusative suffix to show that the person is directly affected by the action. In the phrase kişiyi farklı gösteriyor, it indicates that shaving has a tangible impact on the person’s appearance by making them look different.

What is the function of the adverb kesinlikle in the sentence?

Kesinlikle translates to “definitely” or “absolutely.” It serves to intensify the statement, emphasizing that shaving the beard unmistakably alters the person’s appearance.

Can you explain the structure tanımakta zorlanıyor and why the infinitive is used here?

In tanımakta zorlanıyor, the infinitive form tanımakta (derived from “to recognize”) is combined with zorlanıyor (meaning “is struggling” or “has difficulty”). This construction is common in Turkish when expressing difficulty in performing an action—it conveys that people are having trouble recognizing the person after the change in appearance.

How does the comma between the two parts of the sentence affect its meaning?

The comma separates two related but independent ideas: the first part explains that shaving changes a person’s look, and the second part notes that, as a result, some people may find it hard to recognize that person. This punctuation creates a natural pause and links the cause (the change in appearance) with its possible effect (recognition problems).