Welcome
Login:   Pass:     Register - Forgot Password - Resend Activation

Turkish Class Forums / Language

Language

Add reply to this discussion
Kendi in a Strange Place
1.       Abla
3648 posts
 24 Aug 2011 Wed 11:26 am

I´m not comfortable with some uses of kendi. This sentence looks to me like a learner´s try but it´s not:

         Kızların yanında yaklaştı ve kendilerine ne şekilde yardım edebileceğini sordu.

I thought a reflexive pronoun should refer to the person who acts as the subject. In this example you can´t even put themselves to the English translation but them, I guess. Would this sentence be ungrammatical if a personal pronoun was used istead of kendi?

2.       si++
3785 posts
 24 Aug 2011 Wed 11:43 am

 

Quoting Abla

I´m not comfortable with some uses of kendi. This sentence looks to me like a learner´s try but it´s not:

         Kızların yanında yaklaştı ve kendilerine ne şekilde yardım edebileceğini sordu.

I thought a reflexive pronoun should refer to the person who acts as the subject. In this example you can´t even put themselves to the English translation but them, I guess. Would this sentence be ungrammatical if a personal pronoun was used istead of kendi?

No it wouldn´t. We have 3 ways as far as kendilleri concerned:

Kızların yanında yaklaştı ve kendilerine ne şekilde yardım edebileceğini sordu.

Kızların yanında yaklaştı ve onlara ne şekilde yardım edebileceğini sordu.

Kızların yanında yaklaştı ve onların kendilerine ne şekilde yardım edebileceğini sordu.

 

Using kendi here gives some emphasis in meaning. Means like:

Asked specifically themselves (directly to them, not any other person/poeple)

 

The empasis of similar kind is also possible in English for the Subject position.

I myself will do it

He himself should come and see me.

 

In Turkish it´s possible for both Subject and Object positions.

 

3.       Abla
3648 posts
 24 Aug 2011 Wed 12:21 pm

Thank you for the examples. Now I can come back here next time I find strange uses of kendi.

Add reply to this discussion




Turkish Dictionary
Turkish Chat
Open mini chat
New in Forums
Why yer gördüm but yeri geziyorum
HaydiDeer: Thank you very much, makes perfect sense!
Etmeyi vs etmek
HaydiDeer: Thank you very much!
Görülmez vs görünmiyor
HaydiDeer: Thank you very much, very well explained!
Içeri and içeriye
HaydiDeer: Thank you very much for the detailed ...
Present continous tense
HaydiDeer: Got it, thank you!
Hic vs herhangi, degil vs yok
HaydiDeer: Thank you very much!
Rize Artvin Airport Transfer - Rize Tours
rizetours: Dear Guest; In order to make your Black Sea trip more enjoyable, our c...
What does \"kabul ettiğini\" mean?
HaydiDeer: Thank you very much for the detailed ...
Kimse vs biri (anyone)
HaydiDeer: Thank you!
Random Pictures of Turkey
Most liked
Major Vowel Harmony

Turkish lesson by admin
Level: beginner
Introduction

Turkish lesson by admin
Level: beginner