Breakdown of Lütfen o ekmeği bıçakla kes.
o
that / he / she / it
ekmek
bread
lütfen
please
ile
with / by / and (linking nouns)
bıçak
knife
kesmek
to cut
Questions & Answers about Lütfen o ekmeği bıçakla kes.
How does the word for 'with' attach to bıçak (knife) here?
The word for 'with' is the postposition ile. When attached directly to a word ending in a consonant, it drops the 'i' and follows A-Type vowel harmony. Since the last vowel in bıçak is 'a', it takes the suffix -la, becoming bıçakla (with a knife). You could also write it as two separate words (bıçak ile), but attaching it is much more common!
The word for bread is ekmek. Why does it change to ekmeği in this sentence?
Two things are happening here! First, we are adding the accusative case suffix -i because 'that bread' is the specific direct object of the verb. Second, when you add a suffix starting with a vowel to a Turkish word ending in k, the k usually softens into a 'soft g' (ğ). So, ekmek + -i becomes ekmeği.
Does the word o (that) affect why ekmek needs the accusative ending?
Yes! The word o points to a specific loaf or piece of bread ('that bread'). Because you are talking about a specific, known object that is receiving the action, it must take the accusative case ending (-i). If you were just asking someone to 'cut bread' in general, it would be Lütfen ekmek kes without the suffix.
Why is the verb just kes? Doesn't it need a tense suffix?
No tense suffix is needed because this is a direct command (the imperative). To tell one person to do something informally, you simply use the verb root. The dictionary form is kesmek (to cut), so dropping the -mek leaves us with the command kes (cut!).
Learn Lütfen o ekmeği bıçakla kes 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