Mektuba pul eklemeden göndermemelisin.

You shouldn’t send the letter without adding a stamp.

Breakdown of Mektuba pul eklemeden göndermemelisin.

• eklemek: to add
• göndermek: to send
• mektup: the letter
• -a: to
• -meden: without
• pul: the stamp

Questions & Answers about Mektuba pul eklemeden göndermemelisin.

What does the suffix -meden in eklemeden mean and how is it formed?

The -meden here is a negative adverbial participle (zarf-fiil) suffix meaning “without doing.” It’s built from:

• the verb stem ekle- (“to add”)
• the negative suffix -me-
• the ablative suffix -den (becomes -den by vowel harmony)

Together ekle- + -me- + -den = eklemeden, literally “without adding.”

How is göndermemelisin constructed and what does each part do?

göndermemelisin breaks down into four pieces:

1. gönder- (verb stem “to send”)
2. -me- (negative marker “not”)
3. -meli- (necessity/obligation marker “must/should”)
4. -sin (2nd person singular ending “you”)

Put together, gönder-me-meli-sin → göndermemelisin, meaning “you must not/send – you shouldn’t send.”

Why is mektuba in the dative case instead of the nominative?

In Turkish, the dative case (-a/-e) marks the indirect object or “to whom/what” something is sent.

• mektup = “letter” (nominative)
• mektup + -a = mektuba = “to the letter”

So mektuba göndermek = “to send (something) to the letter.”

Can you use a different verb than eklemek to say “add a stamp” in this context?

Yes. A common alternative is koymak (“to put”).

• Mektuba pul koymadan göndermemelisin.
  Both mean “You shouldn’t send the letter without putting a stamp,” though eklemek (“to attach/add”) is slightly more precise.

Why isn’t there a comma between pul eklemeden and göndermemelisin?

Turkish generally omits commas before short adverbial participle clauses like pul eklemeden. The flow feels natural without a pause. You could insert a comma for emphasis, but it’s not required.

What’s the difference between gönderme! and göndermemelisin?

• gönderme! is a direct negative imperative: “Don’t send!”
• göndermemelisin expresses advisability or obligation: “You shouldn’t send.”

The first is a command; the second is more like giving advice or stating an obligation.

Could I reorder the words? For example, Pul eklemeden mektuba göndermemelisin?

You could, but the most natural order is Mektuba pul eklemeden göndermemelisin, since the object (mektuba) comes first, then the adverbial phrase (pul eklemeden), then the verb (göndermemelisin). Deviating from that can sound awkward or emphasize the wrong element.

Is there any nuance between “you shouldn’t” in English and -memelisin in Turkish?

They’re very close: both express that something is not advisable or allowed. However, Turkish -meli/-malı often carries a slightly stronger “duty/necessity” sense than English “should.” So göndermemelisin can feel closer to “you must not send” than the softer English “you shouldn’t send.”