-(y)emez

Cannot

Level 3

Use -(y)emez to say someone cannot do something, either because they lack the ability or because it is not allowed. It is the negative version of -(y)ebilmek.

How It Works

The negative potential mood is essential for distinguishing between 'I don't do' and 'I can't do' in a general or present context.

1. Formation
The suffix attaches to the verb stem. If the stem ends in a vowel, a buffer -y- is required. The negative suffix changes based on the person:

  • Verb Stem + (y)a/e + Negative Aorist Suffix (e.g., -mem, -mezsin, -mez, -meyiz, -mezsiniz, -mezler)

2. The Potential Vowel
The single vowel -a or -e (following two-way vowel harmony) is what carries the meaning of 'ability.' Without it, the word is just a simple negative.

  • Yapmam = I don't do (Habitual)
  • Yapamam = I cannot do (Inability)

3. Word Stress
In this construction, the word stress falls on the syllable immediately preceding the negative suffix—specifically on the potential vowel (-a/-e).

  • yap-A-maz
  • gel-E-mem

4. The Z-Drop Rule
As with the standard negative aorist, the -z disappears in the 1st person singular (Ben) and plural (Biz):

  • Ben gel-e-me-m (I cannot come)
  • Biz gel-e-me-yiz (We cannot come)

5. Usage Nuances
This pattern covers physical inability ('I can't lift this'), lack of skill ('I can't speak French'), and social prohibition ('You cannot enter here').

Examples (5)

  1. Bunu kimse yapamaz.

    Nobody can do this.

    Word by Word: This-acc nobody do-can-not.

    Uses the 3rd person form to show general impossibility.

  2. Çok üzgünüm, bu akşam size gelemem.

    I'm very sorry, I cannot come to [see] you this evening.

    Word by Word: Very sorry-am, this evening you-to come-can-not-I.

    Demonstrates the 'z-drop' in the 1st person singular (gelemem instead of gelemezim).

  3. Lise öğrencileri çalışma izni alamaz.

    High school students cannot get a work permit.

    Word by Word: High-school students work permit-acc take-can-not.

    Shows the use of the pattern for rules or prohibitions.

  4. Oraya tek başıma gidemem.

    I cannot go there by myself.

    Word by Word: There-to single head-my-to go-can-not-I.

    Note how the 't' in 'gitmek' softens to 'd' before the potential vowel -e.

  5. Kediler uçamaz.

    Cats cannot fly.

    Word by Word: Cats fly-can-not.

    A general statement about physical inability.

Common Mistakes

  • Trying to keep the '-bil' part in the negative.

    Yapabilmem.
    Yapamam.

    In Turkish, the '-bil' from the positive potential is dropped in the negative. Only the vowel -a/-e remains to indicate ability.

  • Forgetting the 'z-drop' in the first person.

    Gelemezim.
    Gelemem.

    For 'I' and 'We', the -z is removed. Use 'gelemem' and 'gelemeyiz' instead of 'gelemezim' or 'gelemeziz'.

  • Confusing the simple negative with the potential negative.

    Türkçe konuşmam.
    Türkçe konuşamam.

    'Konuşmam' means 'I don't speak' (by choice or habit). 'Konuşamam' means 'I cannot speak' (lack of ability).

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-(y)emezLevel 3Cannot

Learn This First

The pattern -(y)emez (Cannot) is the negative aorist form of the potentiality mood. To understand it, learners must first be familiar with the basic inability marker -(y)eme- and how the negative aorist suffix -mez/-maz functions in general statements. Additionally, knowledge of two-way vowel harmony is required to choose the correct vowel for the suffix based on the verb stem.

Words in This Pattern

-mez