Learn Turkish: Biz eşekle köye gidiyorduk. - We were going to the village by donkey.

This word combines two time suffixes. The root is git (to go). First we add -iyor (the continuous suffix for actions happening now), and then we add -du (the past tense suffix). Combining them as -iyordu creates the past continuous tense, meaning was or were doing. Finally, the -k at the end tells us the subject is we.

Why does the root git change to gid in gidiyorduk?

This happens because of a rule called consonant mutation. When the verb root git receives a suffix starting with a vowel, like -iyor, the hard t softens to a d for smoother pronunciation. You also see this happening in present tense forms like gidiyorum.

Why use the suffix -le in eşekle to express by donkey?

In Turkish, the suffix -le or -la is a shortened form of the word ile, which means with. Turkish uses this suffix to show your means of transportation. So eşekle literally translates to with a donkey, which is the natural way to say by donkey.

Why is there an -e at the end of köye?