Elektrik kesilince televizyonu açamadım.

Kesilince means when it was cut or more naturally here when the power went out.

It comes from:

• kesil- = to be cut / to get cut off
• -ince = when / once

So:

• kesilmek = to be cut off
• kesilince = when it got cut off

In this sentence, elektrik kesilince is a very common Turkish way to say when the electricity went out or when the power was cut.

This is just a very common Turkish expression.

Literally:

• elektrik = electricity
• kesilmek = to be cut off

So elektrik kesildi literally means the electricity was cut off, but in natural English we usually say:

• the power went out
• there was a power cut
• the electricity went off

So this is a good example of where the literal wording and the natural translation are slightly different.

Because televizyonu has the accusative ending, which marks a specific direct object.

• televizyon = television / a television
• televizyonu = the television / the TV

In this sentence, the speaker means a specific TV, not just any TV in general. That is why Turkish uses the accusative.

So:

• Televizyon açamadım can sound more general or less standard in this context.
• Televizyonu açamadım = I couldn’t turn on the television.

This is an important difference.

• açmadım = I did not open / turn on
• açamadım = I could not open / turn on

So -ama- / -eme- here expresses inability, not simple negation.

Breakdown:

• aç- = open / turn on
• -ama- = not be able to
• -dı = past tense
• -m = I

So açamadım literally means I was not able to turn it on.

That fits the sentence because the power went out, so the speaker was unable to turn on the TV.

Yes. Açmak can mean both open and turn on, depending on the object.

For example:

• kapıyı açmak = to open the door
• kitabı açmak = to open the book
• televizyonu açmak = to turn on the television
• ışığı açmak = to turn on the light

So with devices, lights, water, and similar things, Turkish often uses açmak where English uses turn on.

Because Turkish usually does not need subject pronouns when the verb ending already shows the person.

In açamadım, the ending -m tells us the subject is I.

So:

• açamadım = I couldn’t turn on
• açamadın = you couldn’t turn on
• açamadı = he/she/it couldn’t turn on

That is why ben is unnecessary here. You could say Ben televizyonu açamadım, but it would usually be for emphasis.

The sentence is:

Elektrik kesilince televizyonu açamadım.

A useful way to divide it is:

1. Elektrik kesilince = when the power went out
2. televizyonu açamadım = I couldn’t turn on the television

So the structure is basically:

[When X happened], [I couldn’t do Y].

This kind of -ince clause is very common in Turkish for giving the time or condition under which something happened.

Yes. Turkish word order is flexible, although some versions sound more neutral than others.

The given sentence is very natural:

• Elektrik kesilince televizyonu açamadım.

You could also say:

• Televizyonu elektrik kesilince açamadım.

That still makes sense, but it shifts the focus a bit.

In neutral Turkish, it is very common to put the time/background clause first and the main action after it, which is exactly what this sentence does.

They are similar, but not always identical in tone.

• kesilince = when it got cut / once it got cut off
• kesildiğinde = when it was cut off / at the time it was cut off

In many everyday sentences, both can work:

• Elektrik kesilince televizyonu açamadım.
• Elektrik kesildiğinde televizyonu açamadım.

But -ince often feels more direct and common in spoken Turkish, especially for cause-and-result or one event following another.

Usually, yes. The natural reading is that the speaker was unable to turn on the TV because the power had gone out.

So the idea is:

• the electricity was cut
• therefore the speaker could not turn on the TV

Turkish does not have to spell out every detail. The cause-and-effect relationship is understood from the sentence.

Yes, in context it can strongly imply cause as well as time.

Literally, -ince is mainly when / once. But in real use, if one event clearly leads to another, English may translate it more naturally as when or because depending on context.

So this sentence could be understood as:

• When the power went out, I couldn’t turn on the TV.
• Because the power went out, I couldn’t turn on the TV.

The Turkish form itself is still -ince, but the context gives it a cause-and-effect feel.

There are two very useful patterns here:

1. Verb + -ince
   = when / once ...

   • gelince = when he/she comes
   • bitince = when it finishes
   • kesilince = when it gets cut off

2. Verb + -ama/-eme + past
   = couldn’t / was not able to ...

   • yapamadım = I couldn’t do it
   • göremedim = I couldn’t see
   • açamadım = I couldn’t turn it on

These are both very common and worth memorizing as patterns.