Learn Hardcore Turkish: Terzi ceketi tamir ediyor. - The tailor is repairing the jacket.

Terzi = tailor (subject)
ceketi = the jacket (direct object, accusative case)
tamir ediyor = is repairing (compound verb: tamir etmek in present continuous, 3rd person singular)

Turkish prefers Subject–Object–Verb, so the finite verb comes last.

Why does ceket end with -i (ceketi)?

The -i is the accusative ending used for a definite/specific direct object. Terzi ceketi tamir ediyor means the tailor is repairing a particular jacket. If it’s non-specific, use bir: Terzi bir ceket tamir ediyor (the tailor is repairing a jacket).

Could ceketi also mean “his/her jacket”?

By itself, ceketi can be either:

accusative “the jacket” (as in this sentence), or
“his/her jacket” (3rd person possessive, nominative).

If you mean “his/her jacket” as a direct object, you must add accusative on top of possessive: ceketini. For clarity about ownership, you can say Terzi kendi ceketini tamir ediyor (the tailor is repairing his/her own jacket).

What is tamir etmek, and why is it ediyor not etiyor?

tamir etmek is a common light-verb compound meaning “to repair.”
Only etmek is conjugated: tamir ediyor = “is repairing.”
In the present continuous, et- + -iyor becomes ediyor (the t softens to d before the vowel).
Negative: etmiyor (not “edmiyor”).
Past: etti; Future: edecek.

What tense/aspect is -iyor here? How is it different from tamir eder?

-iyor is the present continuous: ongoing right now, currently in progress, or scheduled near future.
tamir eder is the aorist/habitual: “(generally) repairs,” routines, facts, or timeless statements.
Examples:
- Şu anda ceketi tamir ediyor. (right now)
- Usta genelde ceket tamir eder. (as a habit)

Where are the English articles the and a/an?

Turkish has no articles like English. Definiteness is often shown by case:

Definite direct object: accusative (ceketi ≈ “the jacket”).
Indefinite: use bir if you want to highlight “a/an” (bir ceket).

How do I pronounce the sentence?

c is like English “j” in “jam” (so ceket starts with a “j” sound).
i is the dotted i; there’s no dotless ı in this sentence.
The progressive -yor ending carries the stress: ediYOR.
Roughly: “TEHR-zi je-KE-ti ta-MIR e-di-YOR.”

Can I omit the subject?

Yes. Turkish drops subjects when clear from context. Ceketi tamir ediyor is fine if “the tailor” is already known.

Can I change the word order? What changes in meaning?

Yes, for emphasis/focus:

Neutral: Terzi ceketi tamir ediyor.
Focus on who is doing it (it’s the tailor, not someone else): Ceketi terzi tamir ediyor.
Keep the finite verb at the end in neutral statements; putting it mid-sentence usually sounds marked or odd.

How do I make a yes/no question or a wh-question?

Yes/No: add the question particle after the predicate: Terzi ceketi tamir ediyor mu?
Wh-:
- Kim ceketi tamir ediyor? (Who is repairing the jacket?)
- Terzi ne tamir ediyor? / Terzi neyi tamir ediyor? (What is the tailor repairing?) Both occur; neyi suggests a specific known item.

How do I negate it?

Use -mA before -yor on etmek:

Terzi ceketi tamir etmiyor. (The tailor is not repairing the jacket.) Note it’s etmiyor, not “edmiyor.”

What are the other person forms for this tense with etmek?

Ben: ediyorum
Sen: ediyorsun
O: ediyor
Biz: ediyoruz
Siz: ediyorsunuz
Onlar: ediyorlar

With the object: Ceketi tamir ediyorum/ediyorsun/…

Is vowel harmony involved in ceketi?

Yes. The accusative is the 4-way suffix -ı/-i/-u/-ü, chosen by the last vowel of the noun. ceket ends in front unrounded e, so it takes -i → ceketi. Examples:

kitap → kitabı
ev → evi
okul → okulu
yüz → yüzü Vowel-final stems take a buffer -y-: araba → arabayı.

How do I say “the coats” or “a jacket” here?

“The coats”: Terzi ceketleri tamir ediyor. Note ceketleri can also mean “their jackets” depending on context.
“A jacket”: Terzi bir ceket tamir ediyor. For an indefinite plural, use words like bazı or a numeral: Terzi birkaç ceket tamir ediyor.

How do I say it in past or future?

Past: Terzi ceketi tamir etti.
Future: Terzi ceketi tamir edecek.

Are there common synonyms for tamir etmek?

onarmak (single-word verb): Terzi ceketi onarıyor.
düzeltmek (to fix, straighten out), depending on context.