Questions & Answers about Lütfen peyniri rendele.
Because -i is the accusative case marking a definite direct object. Peyniri means the cheese (a specific, known cheese). If you say peynir, it’s indefinite: cheese / some cheese.
- Definite: Peyniri rendele. = Grate the cheese.
- Indefinite: Peynir rendele. or Biraz peynir rendele. = Grate some cheese.
The vowel in the accusative suffix follows vowel harmony:
- Last vowel a/ı → -ı (e.g., yağı “the oil”)
- e/i → -i (e.g., peyniri “the cheese”)
- o/u → -u (e.g., tuzu “the salt”)
- ö/ü → -ü (e.g., sütü “the milk”)
It’s the second-person singular imperative of rendelemek (to grate). Imperatives tell someone to do something:
- 2nd sg (informal): rendele
- 2nd pl / polite singular: rendeleyin
- Very formal/polite: rendeleyiniz
It’s softened by lütfen, but it’s still a direct command to someone you address as sen (informal). To be more polite/formal:
- Polite request: Lütfen peyniri rendeleyebilir misiniz?
- Neutral polite (no “please”): Peyniri rendeleyebilir misiniz?
- Polite imperative: Lütfen peyniri rendeleyin.
Use the negative imperative:
- Informal: Lütfen peyniri rendeleme.
- Polite/plural: Lütfen peyniri rendelemeyin.
- Very formal: Lütfen peyniri rendelemeyiniz.
Turkish imperatives normally omit the subject; sen is understood. You add sen or siz only for emphasis or contrast:
- Sen peyniri rendele (You, grate the cheese) contrasts with someone else.
- Siz peyniri rendeleyin is polite/plural and can also emphasize who should do it.
Yes, Turkish word order is flexible, though the neutral order is object before the verb. All of these are possible, with slight shifts in emphasis:
- Lütfen peyniri rendele. (neutral)
- Peyniri lütfen rendele. (politeness sits next to the object)
- Peyniri rendele lütfen. (please at the end; softer tone)
- Lütfen rendele peyniri. (puts focus on the object at the end)
- Rendele peyniri lütfen. (verb-first, stronger directive; emphasis on the object)
Placing an element at the end tends to emphasize it.
Yes, if the context is clear:
- Lütfen onu rendele. = Please grate it.
- If you’re pointing: Lütfen bunu rendele. = Please grate this (one). Don’t keep both (onu peyniri)—just use one object.
Use an indefinite object:
- Peynir rendele.
- Biraz peynir rendele.
- Azıcık/birazcık peynir rendele. (colloquial “a little bit”)
Requests with -ebilir + question particle are very natural:
- Informal: Peyniri rendeleyebilir misin?
- Polite/plural: Peyniri rendeleyebilir misiniz? You can add lütfen: Lütfen peyniri rendeleyebilir misiniz?
- rendelemek: to grate (active). Example: Peyniri rendele.
- rendelenmek: to be grated (passive). Examples:
- Peynir rendelenir. = The cheese is (gets) grated. (used in recipes)
- Peynir rendelendi. = The cheese was grated.
- lütfen: ü is a front rounded vowel (like French “u” in “lune”). Try saying “ee” while rounding your lips.
- peyniri: the ey sounds like “ay” in “day”; the final i is a clear “ee.”
- rendele: stress typically falls near the end: ren-de-LE.
- Turkish r is a quick tap, not the English approximant. Saying it smoothly: “LÜT-fen PEY-ni-ri ren-de-LE.”
-sene/-senize softens a request in a friendly, coaxing way (often among friends/family):
- Informal: Peyniri rendelesene. (Come on, grate the cheese.)
- Polite/plural: Peyniri rendelesenize.
Yes. Commonly:
- Kaşarı rendele. = Grate the kashar cheese.
- Parmesanı rendele.
- Beyaz peyniri rendele. Mark with accusative if definite: kaşarı / parmesanı / beyaz peyniri.