Breakdown of Memurun ona formu doldurmasını emrettiğini biliyorum.
o
that / he / she / it
bilmek
to know
memur
officer
doldurmak
to fill out / to fill (a space)
Questions & Answers about Memurun ona formu doldurmasını emrettiğini biliyorum.
Why is memur in the genitive case (memurun)?
In Turkish, when you form a subordinate clause with the -dik participle (like emrettiği here), the subject of that clause must take the genitive case. So, "the officer ordered" becomes memurun ... emrettiği (literally, "the officer's ... ordering").
Why do we use ona (to him) instead of onu (him)?
The verb emretmek (to order/command) requires the dative case for the person receiving the command. In Turkish, you give an order to someone, so we must use ona.
Can you break down the suffixes on doldurmasını?
Sure! Doldur is the verb root (to fill). The -ma turns it into a noun (filling). The -sı is the 3rd person possessive suffix, showing it is his action ("his filling"). Finally, -nı is the accusative suffix (with a buffer n) because this entire action is the direct object of the commanding verb, emrettiğini.
Why does emrettiğini also end with the accusative -ni suffix?
Because the entire phrase "that the officer ordered him..." is the direct object of the main verb biliyorum (I know). Just like you would say Onu biliyorum (I know it), you must add the accusative suffix to the end of the clause you know, resulting in emrettiğini.