Learn Hardcore Turkish: Eleştirmen filmi beğendi.

Because filmi carries the accusative case marker -i, which Turkish uses to mark a definite or specific direct object (“the film”). If you omit -i, (film) it’s interpreted as an indefinite or non-specific object (“a film”).

What is the function of the -i suffix on film?

The suffix -i is the accusative case ending (one of four vowel-harmonized forms: -i/-ı/-u/-ü). It signals that film is a definite object. Without it, the object is indefinite.

How do we decide which vowel to use in the accusative suffix -i/-ı/-u/-ü?

Turkish vowel harmony dictates the choice:

After front unrounded vowels (e, i), use -i
After front rounded (ö, ü), use -ü
After back unrounded (a, ı), use -ı
After back rounded (o, u), use -u
Since film ends in i (a front unrounded vowel), we attach -i: filmi.

Why is the verb beğendi at the end of the sentence?

Turkish is a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) language. The default word order places the verb last: Eleştirmen (S) filmi (O) beğendi (V). You can reorder for emphasis, but the verb typically stays at the end.

What does beğendi break down into?

beğen- is the root meaning “to like.”
-di is the simple past tense suffix.
There is no additional ending for third person singular; it’s a zero ending.
So beğen + di = beğendi (“he/she/it liked”).

Why isn’t there a personal pronoun like o (“he/she/it”) in front of beğendi?

Turkish is a pro-drop language: subject pronouns are optional because the verb ending (here -di + zero person ending) already tells you it’s third person singular. You can include o for emphasis or clarity—O eleştirmen filmi beğendi—but it’s not required.

How would you say “A critic liked the movie” instead?

Add the indefinite article bir before eleştirmen:
Bir eleştirmen filmi beğendi.
Here bir makes eleştirmen clearly “a critic.”

How do you express “The critics liked the movie” (plural)?

Pluralize both the subject and (optionally) the verb’s subject agreement:
Eleştirmenler filmi beğendiler.

eleştirmenler = “critics”
beğendiler = “they liked”

When should you use the accusative case in Turkish, and when not?

Use the accusative suffix on an object when it’s definite, specific, or known to the listener. If the object is indefinite or generic, you leave it unmarked (nominative). E.g.:

Definite: Kitabı okudum (“I read the book.”)
Indefinite: Kitap okudum (“I read a book.”)