Breakdown of Kedi perdeleri tırmalayıp duruyor.
Questions & Answers about Kedi perdeleri tırmalayıp duruyor.
Because durmak acts like an auxiliary here and the first verb must be in the converb form -Ip. You can’t chain two finite verbs. The pattern is:
- Verb1 in -Ip
- auxiliary verb (here durmak in -yor) So: tırmala-y-ıp dur-uyor = “keeps scratching.”
- Root: tırmala- “to scratch”
- Converb: -Ip (harmonizes as -ıp after a back vowel)
- Buffer consonant: -y- is inserted because the stem ends in a vowel Result: tırmala + y + ıp → tırmalayıp
It’s a definite plural direct object:
- perde “curtain”
- -ler plural → perdeler “curtains”
- -(y)i accusative (definite object) → perdeleri “the curtains” (as a specific object)
Turkish marks definite/specific direct objects with the accusative; that’s why -i is there.
Yes, in writing perdeleri is ambiguous:
- perde-ler-i = “the curtains” (plural + accusative)
- perde-leri = “their curtains” (3rd person plural possessive)
Context usually resolves it. If “their curtains” is intended as a definite object, you typically see the accusative on top of the possessive: perdelerini (“their curtains” + ACC). To make it crystal clear, add the possessor: onların perdelerini.
Turkish has no articles. Definiteness is shown by context and case-marking. Here:
- kedi can mean “the cat” or “a cat,” depending on context.
- perdeleri is definite because it has the accusative -i.
With an indefinite object, Turkish typically drops the accusative, and often the plural too:
- Kedi perde tırmalıyor. = “The/A cat is scratching curtains (in general).” You could also keep the plural for emphasis on plurality: Kedi perdeler tırmalıyor, but the singular object is more common in the indefinite reading.
Yes. Turkish is pro‑drop. If context makes the subject clear, you can say:
- Perdeleri tırmalayıp duruyor. = “(He/She/It) keeps scratching the curtains.”
Yes; basic order is S–O–V, but you can front elements for emphasis:
- Perdeleri kedi tırmalayıp duruyor. (emphasis on “the curtains”)
- Kedi tırmalayıp duruyor perdeleri. (possible but marked; standard is to keep the object before the verb complex) The finite verb still comes last.
Yes. You can keep tırmalıyor and add an adverb:
- hep tırmalıyor
- sürekli tırmalıyor
- durmadan tırmalıyor These are more neutral; -ıp durmak often hints at annoyance.