Breakdown of Böyle eski bir testere tahtayı iyi kesmiyor.
bir
a / an
iyi
good
eski
old
kesmek
to cut
böyle
like this
tahta
wood (board, plank) / wooden board
testere
saw
Questions & Answers about Böyle eski bir testere tahtayı iyi kesmiyor.
How does böyle work in this sentence?
Here, böyle acts like the English word 'such.' It modifies the entire noun phrase eski bir testere to mean 'such an old saw' or 'an old saw like this.'
What is the difference between using böyle and öyle in this context?
Böyle means 'like this,' implying the saw is right here near the speaker or in their hands. If the saw were physically further away, or if you were talking about a saw mentioned earlier in conversation but not present, you would use öyle ('like that' / 'such an old saw as that').
Why is the word order böyle eski bir testere instead of putting bir first?
In Turkish, the indefinite article bir usually hugs the noun tightly, coming right after any adjectives. Just as you say eski bir testere (an old saw), you add böyle to the front to get böyle eski bir testere (such an old saw). Starting the phrase with bir sounds unnatural in Turkish.
Why is it tahtayı with the accusative ending instead of just tahta?
The -yı ending is the specific direct object (accusative) case, making it 'the wood.' The speaker is likely struggling with a specific piece of wood right now. If they were making a general statement about the saw's ability to cut wood in general, they would drop the ending and just say tahta iyi kesmiyor.
Why is the continuous tense kesmiyor used if the English translation uses the simple present 'doesn't cut'?
While English uses the simple present ('doesn't cut') for the general characteristics of a tool, Turkish often uses the present continuous (-iyor) for current, observable facts or ongoing situations. The speaker is likely holding the saw right now and observing its poor performance in real time.
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