Ben posta kutusunu kontrol ettim.

I checked the mailbox.

Breakdown of Ben posta kutusunu kontrol ettim.

• ben: I
• kontrol etmek: to check
• posta kutusu: the mailbox

Questions & Answers about Ben posta kutusunu kontrol ettim.

Do I need to say Ben, or can I drop it?

You can drop it. The ending -dim on ettim already means I.

• With emphasis/contrast: Ben posta kutusunu kontrol ettim.
• Neutral: Posta kutusunu kontrol ettim.

What is the internal structure of posta kutusu?

It’s a noun–noun compound meaning “mailbox.” In such compounds, the second noun takes the 3rd-person possessive marker:

• posta + kutu + su → posta kutusu (literally “post’s box,” but idiomatically “mailbox”).
  This -su does not indicate a real owner; it’s just part of the compound pattern.

Why does it become posta kutusunu in the sentence?

Because it’s a definite direct object, so it takes the accusative suffix -(y)I. After the compound marker -su, you insert the buffer -n- before the case ending:

• posta kutu-su-nu (compound -su + buffer -n- + accusative -u).
  Vowel harmony picks -u because the last vowel of kutusu is u.

Does posta kutusu mean “my mailbox”?

No. It’s just “mailbox.” For “my mailbox,” mark the head noun with 1st-person possessive:

• Subject: posta kutum
• As object (accusative): posta kutumu
  Example: Posta kutumu kontrol ettim.

Why use kontrol etmek instead of a single verb?

Turkish often turns borrowed nouns into verbs with the light verb etmek. So “to check” is expressed as kontrol etmek. You don’t say kontrolledim; you say kontrol ettim (two words).

How is ettim formed?

• Root: et- (do)
• Past: -di (becomes -ti after voiceless consonants)
• 1st person sg: -m
  So: et + ti + m → ettim. The double t comes from the boundary between et- and -ti.

What’s the standard word order here?

Subject–Object–Verb:

• Ben (subject) posta kutusunu (object) kontrol ettim (verb).
  You can move elements for emphasis, but the verb typically stays last.

How do I negate this sentence?

Insert the negative -me/-ma before the tense:

• Ben posta kutusunu kontrol etmedim. (“I didn’t check the mailbox.”)

How do I make it a yes–no question?

Add the question particle mi/mı/mu/mü (with vowel harmony), written separately:

• Ben posta kutusunu kontrol ettim mi?
• Shorter: Posta kutusunu kontrol ettim mi?

Why not postayı kontrol ettim?

You can say that, but it means “I checked the mail (letters),” not the mailbox.

• postayı = the mail
• posta kutusunu = the mailbox

How does Turkish show “the”? There’s no article.

Definiteness of direct objects is shown with the accusative.

• Definite: Posta kutusunu kontrol ettim. (“I checked the mailbox.”)
• Indefinite: Bir posta kutusu kontrol ettim. (“I checked a mailbox.”)

Can I omit the accusative if I mean something general?

If the object is truly indefinite, you can omit accusative:

• Posta kutusu kontrol ettim is possible but sounds clipped/technical. More natural: Bir posta kutusu kontrol ettim.
  For a specific mailbox, keep -u: posta kutusunu.

Is Ben posta kutusunu kontrol ettim different from Posta kutusunu ben kontrol ettim?

Yes, the second one emphasizes ben (“It was me who checked the mailbox”), often in contrast to others. Both are grammatical.

Any pronunciation tips for ettim and the double tt?

Pronounce both t sounds clearly: et-tim. Turkish doubles are fully articulated; don’t shorten them to a single t.

Other natural ways to say “I checked the mailbox”?

• Posta kutusuna baktım. (I looked at the mailbox.) — slightly weaker than “checked.”
• Postayı kontrol ettim. (I checked the mail.) — different object.
• For email: E-postamı kontrol ettim. (I checked my email.)