Questions & Answers about Tırnaklarımı kendim temizliyorum.
Why is it kendim instead of just kendi?
The word kendi (self) needs a possessive suffix to show whose self we are talking about. Since the verb is "I clean" (temizliyorum), we add the first-person singular possessive -m (my) to make kendim (myself).
Does kendim replace ben (I) in this sentence?
Not exactly. The "I" is already built into the verb temizliyorum. Adding kendim means "myself" and is used for emphasis to say you do it on your own, without help. You could actually say Ben tırnaklarımı kendim temizliyorum (I clean my nails myself) if you wanted even more emphasis.
What are all the suffixes at the end of Tırnaklarımı?
There are three! We start with the root tırnak (nail). Then we add -lar (plural) to make it "nails". Next is -ım (my) for "my nails". Finally, we add -ı (the accusative case) because your nails are the specific direct object that you are cleaning.
The dictionary form of the verb is temizlemek (to clean). Why does it change to temizli- here?
When a verb stem ends in an a or e (like temizle-), and you add the continuous suffix -iyor, that final vowel drops or "narrows" into ı, i, u, or ü. Here, the e turns into an i to flow smoothly, making it temizliyorum instead of "temizleyorum"eyorum".
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