Question 1

How do we use gibi to say 'like stone' here?

Accepted Answer

In English, we put 'like' before the noun, but in Turkish, the postposition gibi comes right after the noun. So, taş (stone) + gibi (like) gives us taş gibi (like stone).

Question 2

How does the whole phrase taş gibi sert bir peynir fit together?

Accepted Answer

Think of taş gibi (like stone) as a modifier for the adjective sert (hard). This creates a longer adjective phrase: taş gibi sert (hard as a rock / stone-hard). This entire phrase then describes the cheese!

Question 3

Why is bir placed right before peynir instead of at the very beginning of the phrase?

Accepted Answer

When a noun has both an adjective and the indefinite article bir (a/an), bir usually sneaks in between the adjective and the noun. Since taş gibi sert acts as one big adjective block, bir comes right after it.

Question 4

Why is the verb yemek in its full dictionary form (ending in -mek)?

Accepted Answer

When you want to say you want (or don't want) to do an action, that action verb stays in its infinitive form, just like in English. So yemek istemedi translates directly to 'did not want to eat.'

Question 5

What is the breakdown of the suffixes on istemedi?

Accepted Answer

It is built on the verb root iste- (to want). The -me is the negative suffix, and -di is the past tense ending. Together, they mean 'he/she/it did not want'.

Taş gibi sert bir peynir yemek istemedi.

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