Learn Turkish
Lesson 117: The negative capability and possibility suffix 2
In this lesson you will learn about the second type of negation with the capability suffix, negating the main verb. In this form, you add the negation suffix -mE after the main verb, and you use the positive form -(y)Ebil of the capability suffix. Let's see.
| Turkish | English | |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | yap-abil-ir-im | I may/can do (it). |
| Negative 2 | yap-ma-y-abil-ir-im | I may/might not do (it). |
Negative 2 always conveys an ability or willingness not to do something, or a possibility that something may not happen. It does not convey the meaning of impossibility or unwillingness.
When used in past tense, it refers to something you were not sure could be avoided, but could. For example think of a meeting in which you think you will absolutely fart, but you must not. After the meeting, you notice that you haven't farted, so you can say osur-ma-y-abil-di-m, I was able to not fart.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| air conditioner | klima |
| Could you not turn on the air conditioner please ? | Klimayı açmayabilir misiniz lütfen? |
| In this election I might not vote. | Bu seçimde oy vermeyebilirim. |
| meeting | toplantı |
| I might not come to the meeting that evening. | O akşam toplantıya gelmeyebilirim. |
| Her father might not take you to the football match tomorrow. | Babası yarın seni futbol maçına götürmeyebilir. |
| The owner of that (large) store might not bargain. | O mağazanın sahibi pazarlık yapmayabilir. |
| Kamil might not apologize to your stupid (maternal) aunt. | Kamil, senin aptal teyzenden özür dilemeyebilir. |
| funeral | cenaze |
| love, affection | sevgi |
| girlfriend/boyfriend, lover, significant other | sevgili |
| I was able to not laugh at the funeral of my girlfriend's (maternal) uncle. | Sevgilimin dayısının cenazesinde gülmeyebildim. |
| mistake, fault, error | hata |
| You will be able to not forget your important mistakes after the treatment. | Tedaviden sonra önemli hatalarını unutmayabileceksin. |
| arena | arena |
| Maybe you will be able not to die in the arena this morning. | Belki bu sabah arenada ölmeyebilirsin. |
| Could your (paternal) grandmother not yell at me please? | Babaannen bana bağırmayabilir mi lütfen? |