Patron, “Projeyi zamanında teslim etmelisiniz,” diye emretti.

The boss ordered, “You must deliver the project on time.”

Breakdown of Patron, “Projeyi zamanında teslim etmelisiniz,” diye emretti.

• proje: the project
• patron: the boss
• zamanında: on time
• teslim etmek: to deliver
• diye: quoting
• emretmek: to order

Questions & Answers about Patron, “Projeyi zamanında teslim etmelisiniz,” diye emretti.

What role does the particle diye play in the sentence?

diye functions as a connector that introduces the reported speech. It signals that the words within the quotation marks are being reported indirectly, much like the word "that" in English when turning direct speech into reported speech.

How is the obligation expressed in teslim etmelisiniz?

The phrase teslim etmelisiniz is formed by taking the main verb teslim etmek (to deliver/submit) and adding the modal suffix -meli, which indicates necessity or obligation. This modal form is then combined with the second person ending -siniz, meaning “you must/are obliged to”—thus conveying a command to submit the project on time.

Why is Projeyi written with the ending -yi and what does it signify?

In Turkish, when a specific direct object is mentioned, it takes the accusative marker. Projeyi is proje (project) with the accusative suffix -yi, indicating that the project is a definite object of the verb. This marking is essential to clarify that a specific project is being referred to.

How is reported speech structured in this sentence?

The sentence uses a typical Turkish structure for reported speech. The exact words of the command are enclosed in quotation marks. Following the quotation, the particle diye introduces the reported speech element, and finally, the reporting verb emretti (commanded) appears in the past tense. This order—speaker identifier, quoted command, linking particle, and reporting verb—mirrors the way indirect speech is conveyed in both Turkish and English.

What is the role of the comma after Patron in this sentence?

The comma after Patron serves to separate the speaker’s designation from the quoted command. This punctuation mirrors conventions in both Turkish and English, where a comma is commonly used after the name or title of the person speaking to clearly delineate who is being quoted from the content of their speech.