Breakdown of Bu bilgiyi nereden elde ettin?
bu
this
nereden
where from
bilgi
information
elde etmek
to obtain
Questions & Answers about Bu bilgiyi nereden elde ettin?
What is the literal breakdown of the compound verb elde ettin?
It comes from el (hand) + -de (locative suffix 'in/at') + etmek (to do/make). So elde etmek literally means 'to make in hand,' which translates to 'to obtain' or 'to acquire.' Here, it is conjugated in the simple past tense for 'you' (ettin).
The English translation says 'Where did you obtain...', so why does the Turkish use the ablative case nereden (from where) instead of nerede (where)?
In English, we often use 'where' for both location and origin. In Turkish, verbs of acquiring, buying, or obtaining (like elde etmek or almak) focus on the source of the item. Therefore, you must use the ablative -den to indicate 'from where' the information came.
Why does bilgi take the accusative case suffix -(y)i here?
Because it is the specific direct object of the verb. The word bu (this) makes the information specific. Whenever a direct object is specified by a demonstrative adjective like bu, şu, or o, it must take the accusative case. The y is simply a buffer letter separating the vowels.
Could I change the word order and say Nereden bu bilgiyi elde ettin?
Yes, grammatically you can, but placing nereden immediately before the verb is the most natural word order. In Turkish, the stressed information—which is usually the question word in a question—is placed right before the verb to give it focus.
Learn Bu bilgiyi nereden elde ettin 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