Breakdown of Biz eşekle köye gidiyorduk.
biz
we
gitmek
to go
köy
village
ile
with / by / and (linking nouns)
eşek
donkey
Questions & Answers about Biz eşekle köye gidiyorduk.
How does gidiyorduk mean were going?
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?
The suffix -e or -a is the dative case, which shows direction or destination. It translates as to or towards. Because the action of going is directed toward the village, köy takes the -e suffix to become köye (to the village).
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