Questions & Answers about Şimdi sözlüğe bakıyorum.
Why does sözlük (dictionary) change to sözlüğe?
This is an example of consonant mutation. The root word is sözlük (dictionary). When we add the dative suffix -e (to/at), the suffix starts with a vowel. In Turkish, when a word ends in -k and gets a vowel suffix, the k softens into a ğ (yumuşak ge). So, sözlük + e becomes sözlüğe.
The translation says "looking at", but doesn't the suffix -e usually mean "to"?
Yes, it does! However, in Turkish, the verb bakmak (to look) requires the dative case (the "to" direction). You don't look at something in Turkish; you look to it. That's why we say sözlüğe bakıyorum (literally "I am looking to the dictionary").
How do the suffixes on bakıyorum break down?
It starts with the verb root bak- (look). Then we add the present continuous suffix -ıyor (which means the action is happening right now, like "-ing" in English). Finally, we add the "I" personal ending -um. Put together: bak- + -ıyor + -um = bakıyorum (I am looking).
Could I put şimdi (now) at the end of the sentence instead?
It is technically possible in casual speech, but standard Turkish word order puts time words like şimdi at the beginning of the sentence, or right after the subject. Because the subject "I" is already built into the verb here, şimdi naturally takes the very first spot.
Learn Şimdi sözlüğe bakıyorum and more in Turkish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free