-sin (3. kişi emir)

Let Him Do It

Level 3

The 3rd-person imperative (jussive) uses the suffix -sin (and its variants) to say 'let him/her/it do' or 'they should do.' It is used for direct orders, polite suggestions, and common blessings.

How It Works

The Turkish 3rd-person imperative is essential for daily communication. It covers meanings that English often expresses with 'let,' 'should,' or 'may.'

1. Formation:
Take the verb stem (remove -mak/-mek) and add the suffix based on the last vowel. Unlike the optative mood, this suffix always starts with 's', so no buffer letter 'y' is needed even if the stem ends in a vowel:

  • -sın (a, ı): Bak-sın (Let him look)
  • -sin (e, i): Gel-sin (Let him come)
  • -sun (o, u): Oku-sun (Let him read)
  • -sün (ö, ü): Gör-sün (Let him see)

2. Plural Form:
To address 'them,' add -ler/-lar after the suffix: -sınlar, -sinler, -sunlar, -sünler. Note that if the plural subject is human and explicitly mentioned (e.g., Çocuklar), the plural suffix on the verb is optional. However, for non-human plural subjects (animals, objects, or ideas), the singular verb form is the standard and preferred choice.

3. Negation:
Place the -ma/-me directly after the verb stem: Yap-ma-sın (Let him not do it).

4. Questions:
Use the question particle to ask for instructions or permission: Gelsin mi? (Should he come?). You can also use negative questions (e.g., Yapmasın mı? - Shouldn't he do it?) to make suggestions or express rhetorical sentiments.

5. Usage Nuances:
While called 'imperative,' it is not always a harsh command. It is frequently used for:

  • Wishes/Prayers: Allah korusun (May God protect).
  • Suggestions: Ayşe baksın (Let Ayşe look).
  • Inanimate Objects: Işık yansın (Let the light be lit).
  • Social Formulas: Kolay gelsin (May it come easy).

Examples (6)

  1. Ali yarın erkenden buraya gelsin.

    Let Ali come here early tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Ali tomorrow early here let-him-come.

    A direct instruction regarding Ali's actions tomorrow.

  2. Allah seni korusun.

    May God protect you.

    Word by Word: God you let-protect.

    A common formulaic wish or blessing using the 3rd-person imperative.

  3. Çocuklar bahçede oynasınlar, içeri girmesinler.

    Let the children play in the garden; let them not come inside.

    Word by Word: Children garden-in let-them-play, inside let-them-not-enter.

    Demonstrates both the plural form (-sınlar) and the negative form (-mesinler).

  4. Kapı açık kalsın.

    Let the door stay open.

    Word by Word: Door open let-stay.

    This shows the imperative used with an inanimate object as the subject.

  5. Sekreter içeri girsin mi?

    Should the secretary come in?

    Word by Word: Secretary inside let-enter [question]?

    Using the question form to ask for permission or instructions regarding a third person.

  6. Ayşe de bizimle gelmesin mi?

    Shouldn't Ayşe come with us too?

    Word by Word: Ayşe also us-with let-not-come [question]?

    A negative question used to make a suggestion or express a 'why not' sentiment.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding 'bırakmak' (to let/leave) and 'onu' to translate 'let him...'

    Bırak onu gelsin.
    O gelsin.

    English speakers often add a separate verb for 'let.' In Turkish, the 'let' meaning is already inside the -sin suffix, so 'O gelsin' is enough. 'Bırak o gelsin' is also heard, but 'onu' is wrong there, because the person is the subject.

  • Negating with 'değil' instead of '-ma/-me'.

    O gelsin değil.
    O gelmesin.

    Commands and imperatives must be negated using the verbal suffix -ma/-me, never with the word değil.

  • Confusing the 3rd-person imperative with the 2nd-person 'you are' suffix.

    Sen gelsin.
    Sen geliyorsun. / O gelsin.

    The suffix -sin is used for 'you are' in the present tense, but as an imperative, it only applies to 'he/she/it.' For 'you' (singular) in the imperative, use the bare verb stem.

How It Connects

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-sin (3. kişi emir)Level 3Let Him Do It

Learn This First

To understand the third-person imperative 'let him/her/them do', you need to know how to identify the verb stem (the simple command form), apply four-way vowel harmony for the suffix -sin, and use the plural suffix for multiple subjects.

Words in This Pattern

-sin