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Questions & Answers about Lütfen soyadınızı yazınız.
What does each part of the sentence do?
- Lütfen = please (polite marker)
- soyad-ınız-ı = surname-your-ACC
- soyad = surname
- -ınız = your (formal/plural possessive)
- -ı = accusative (marks a definite direct object)
- yaz-ın(ız) = write (imperative, 2nd person plural/formal; the longer form -ınız is a very formal variant)
Why does the sentence have -ınız twice (in soyadınızı and yazınız)?
They mark different things:
- In soyad-ınız-ı, -ınız is a possessive suffix meaning your (formal/plural).
- In yaz-ın(ız), the ending is the imperative for addressing you (plural/formal). Using the plural form for a single person is the polite way to address someone in Turkish.
Is the final -ı in soyadınızı the accusative? Do I need it here?
Yes. -ı is the accusative case, used for definite direct objects. You are telling someone to write a specific, known thing—your surname—so accusative is required: soyad-ınız-ı. If it were indefinite (not the case here), you could say something like Bir soyad yazın(ız) = write a surname.
How formal is yazınız? What are the alternatives?
- yaz = write (2sg; can sound brusque unless softened with Lütfen)
- yazın = write (2pl/formal; polite and common in speech)
- yazınız = write (2pl/formal; very formal/official, common on forms and signs)
- yazar mısınız? = would you write (it)? (polite request in question form; often the softest in conversation)
What’s the difference between yazın and yazınız?
Both address the plural/formal you. yazın is the standard polite imperative; yazınız is a more formal/ceremonial variant, especially in written instructions. Note: yazın can also mean “in the summer” in other contexts; here the verb meaning is clear from position and capitalization.
Why is it soyadınızı and not soyadın or soyadınızı?
- soyadın = your surname (informal singular)
- soyadınız = your surname (formal singular or plural)
- With the accusative for a definite object:
- informal: soyadını
- formal/plural: soyadınızı The sentence uses the formal/plural address, so soyadınızı is correct.
Why does the suffix use ı (dotless i) and not i (dotted i) in -ınızı / -ınız?
Vowel harmony. The last vowel of the stem (a in soyad and yaz) is a back, unrounded vowel, so the back, unrounded variant ı is used: -ınız / -ı. If the last vowel were front (e/i), you’d see -iniz / -i; if rounded back (o/u), -unuz / -u; if rounded front (ö/ü), -ünüz / -ü.
What’s the difference between soyad, soyadı, and soyisim?
- soyad and soyadı both mean surname; both are widely used. Officially, soyadı (with the third-person possessive marker as part of a fixed compound) is traditional, but forms like soyadım/soyadınız are also standard in practice.
- soyisim is a common synonym (isim = name). All three are understood; in formal contexts, soyadı is often preferred.
Can I change the word order?
Yes, but the given order is the most natural for instructions:
- Default: Lütfen soyadınızı yazınız. Other acceptable variants:
- Soyadınızı lütfen yazınız.
- Lütfen soyadınızı yazın. Keeping the object before the verb is typical; placing lütfen first is very common in requests.
Do I need a comma after Lütfen?
No comma is required. You’ll often see it without a comma: Lütfen … Some writers add a comma after interjections, but the standard instructional style omits it.
How do I pronounce the dotless ı?
Turkish ı is a high, back, unrounded vowel. It’s somewhat like the second vowel in English “roses” or a quick, relaxed “uh,” but further back in the mouth. In soyadınızı you’ll say it twice: so-ya-dı-nı-zı.
Can I drop Lütfen and still be polite?
Yes, Soyadınızı yazın(ız). is polite because of the formal imperative. However, Lütfen softens the request and is standard on signs and forms. In speech, a question form like Soyadınızı yazar mısınız? often sounds even gentler.
How do I say this as a polite question instead of an imperative?
Use the aorist + question particle:
- Soyadınızı yazar mısınız? = Would you write your surname? Note that the question particle mi is written separately and harmonizes: mı/mu/mi/mü. Here it’s mı because the last vowel of yazar is a (a back vowel).
Why is the question particle separate in yazar mısınız? and how is it spelled?
In Turkish, the yes–no question particle mi is always written as a separate word and follows the word it questions, taking vowel harmony: mi/mı/mu/mü. The personal ending attaches to it: mısınız = mı + sınız.
What would the negative instruction look like?
- Lütfen soyadınızı yazmayınız. = Please do not write your surname. Here yazma- is the negative stem, and -yınız (formal imperative) follows vowel harmony.
Is soyadınızı one word or two? I sometimes see soy adınızı.
It’s one word: soyadınızı. The noun soyadı/soyad is a compound and is written solid. Writing soy ad as two words is a common mistake on informal signage.