Learn Hardcore Turkish: Tezgâh temiz, ben sebzeleri burada kesiyorum. - The counter is clean, I am cutting the vegetables here.

Turkish often drops the present-tense copula in third-person nominal sentences. So Tezgâh temiz literally “Counter clean” means “The counter is clean.”

You can add the formal/generalizing copula: Tezgâh temizdir (more bookish, neutral-fact tone).
In past/future you do use copular endings: Tezgâh temizdi (was clean), Tezgâh temiz olacak (will be clean).
In 1st/2nd person, you attach personal endings: Ben temizim, Sen temizsin.

What exactly does the ending in sebzeleri mean?

It’s two endings: plural + definite object (accusative).

Breakdown: sebze-ler-i = vegetable + plural + definite object.
The -i marks a specific/definite direct object (“the vegetables”).
Without -i, it’s indefinite (“vegetables” in general): sebze(ler) as object (usually just sebze).

How would I say “I cut vegetables here” (not a specific set) vs “I cut the vegetables here”?

Indefinite/general vegetables (habit or job):
- Habitual: Burada sebze keserim.
- Right now/in progress: Burada sebze kesiyorum.
Definite/specific vegetables (the ones we have in mind):
- Habitual: Burada sebzeleri keserim.
- Right now/in progress: Burada sebzeleri kesiyorum. Using -i (accusative) on the object signals that it’s specific/definite.

Why do we have -da in burada?

It’s the locative case “at/in/on” attached to the demonstrative stem bura- (“this place”).

Suffix: -(d)a/-(d)e with vowel harmony (a/e) and consonant harmony (d/t).
Because the last vowel in bura is a back vowel a, we use -da.
After a voiceless consonant you’d see -ta/-te: parkta, mektepte.

Is burada the same as burda and how is it different from burası?

burada = “here, at this place” (with locative case).
burda = colloquial contraction of burada; very common in speech and informal writing.
burası = “this place (as a noun)”; for example, Burası temiz = “This place is clean.”

Do I need the pronoun ben? Can I drop it?

You can drop it. The verb ending -um in kesiyorum already marks 1st person singular.

Sebzeleri burada kesiyorum. = “I’m cutting the vegetables here.”
Keep ben for emphasis/contrast: Ben sebzeleri burada kesiyorum = “I (as opposed to someone else) cut the vegetables here.”

Is the word order fixed? What changes if I reorder the elements?

Turkish is flexible but tends toward SOV, and the element right before the verb is typically in focus.

Sebzeleri burada kesiyorum. Focus on location: “I cut the vegetables HERE.”
Burada sebzeleri kesiyorum. Focus on the object: “Here, it’s THE VEGETABLES I’m cutting (not fruit).”
Ben sebzeleri burada kesiyorum. Emphasizes the subject “I.” Reordering doesn’t usually change truth conditions, but it changes what you highlight.

What does kesiyorum tell me morphologically?

It’s present continuous, 1st person singular.

Root: kes- (cut)
Progressive: -(I)yor → -iyor after a front vowel (e/i)
Person: -um (1sg)
Full: kes-iyor-um → kesiyorum Negation: kesmiyorum.
Question: Kesiyor muyum? (note the separate question particle with vowel harmony).

When should I use keserim instead of kesiyorum?

keserim (aorist/simple present) is for habits, general truths, abilities: “I cut (as a rule).”
kesiyorum (present continuous) is for actions in progress or arranged near-future actions: “I’m cutting (now/soon).” Context can blur the line, but as a rule: habit = -r, right now = -yor.

What does the comma do between Tezgâh temiz, and ben sebzeleri burada kesiyorum?

It’s asyndetic coordination: two independent clauses joined by a comma, often implying a mild cause-effect or explanation. You could also write:

Two sentences: Tezgâh temiz. Ben sebzeleri burada kesiyorum.
Or add a connector: Tezgâh temiz, bu yüzden/oyüzden sebzeleri burada kesiyorum.

How do I pronounce and spell Tezgâh? Is the circumflex necessary?

Standard spelling is tezgâh with a circumflex on â. It signals vowel length (and sometimes palatalization history) in words of Persian/Arabic origin.
Many people write tezgah without the circumflex, especially informally; it’s widely accepted.
Pronunciation: roughly “tez-gah,” with a slightly longer a before h; the final h is pronounced.

What else can tezgâh mean?

It can mean:

A countertop/workbench in a kitchen or workshop,
A shop stall or stand (like a market stall),
By extension, “setup/arrangement” (figurative, in some contexts). Context decides which sense is intended.

Where does the stress fall in kesiyorum?

With the progressive -(I)yor, word stress typically falls on the syllable immediately before -yor.

ke-Sİ-yor-um → stress on -si-. Compare: yapıyorum → ya-PI-yo-rum (stress on -pi-).

If I want to say “on the counter,” how would I express that?

Use the locative with the noun:

Tezgâhta = “on/at the counter.” For extra clarity or emphasis on surface, use a postposition:
Tezgâhın üstünde/üzerinde = “on top of the counter.” Example: Sebzeleri tezgâhta kesiyorum or Sebzeleri tezgâhın üstünde kesiyorum.

Can I move burada to the end, like “Sebzeleri kesiyorum burada”?

Yes, in speech that’s possible and sounds conversational, often adding afterthought or emphasis on location. The most neutral written order keeps the focused element right before the verb, but … kesiyorum burada is natural in casual talk.

Is sebzeler (plural without -i) ever okay as an object?

Yes, but it’s less common than the singular for an indefinite mass. Indefinite objects are usually unmarked singular:

Most natural: Sebze kesiyorum (“I’m cutting vegetables”).
Possible but marked for plurality: Sebzeler kesiyorum (rare/marked).
Definite: Sebzeleri kesiyorum (“I’m cutting the vegetables”).