-di (kişi ekleri)
Simple Past Person Endings
In Turkish, the simple past tense uses a unique set of person endings (Type II) that differ from the ones used in the present or future. These endings tell you who performed the action.
How It Works
The -di kişi ekleri (Type II endings) are a specific set of person suffixes used for the simple past tense and the conditional mood. Unlike the more common Type I endings, these are attached directly to the tense or mood marker.
The Conjugation Table:
- Ben (I): -m (e.g., geldim)
- Sen (You): -n (e.g., geldin)
- O (He/She/It): ø (No ending; e.g., geldi)
- Biz (We): -k (e.g., geldik)
- Siz (You plural/polite): -nız / -niz / -nuz / -nüz (e.g., geldiniz)
- Onlar (They): -lar / -ler (e.g., geldiler)
Key Rules:
1. Harmony and Consonants: While these endings are stable, the preceding tense marker follows consonant assimilation. For example, iç- becomes içti, so the full form appears as içtiniz.
2. The 'We' Difference: In most Turkish tenses, 'we' ends in -z. In the past and conditional, it always ends in -k (geldik, gelsek).
3. Question Placement: A major difference from the present tense is that the question word always comes after the person ending (e.g., Geldin mi?). In the present continuous, the person ending usually attaches to the question word (e.g., Geliyor musun?), but with the past tense, the person ending stays attached to the verb.
4. Nominal Sentences: These same endings are used when describing past states with nouns or adjectives using the past of sentences without a verb (e.g., öğrenciydim - I was a student) or the conditional of nominal sentences (e.g., hastaysan - if you are ill).
5. Subject Dropping: Because these endings clearly identify the person, speakers usually practice dropping the subject pronoun.
Examples (5)
- Dün akşam çok güzel bir film izledim.
I watched a very beautiful movie last night.
Word by Word: Yesterday evening very beautiful one movie watch-past-I.
The suffix -m indicates the first person singular (Ben).
- Biz geçen yaz Marmaris'e gittik.
We went to Marmaris last summer.
Word by Word: We last summer Marmaris-to go-past-we.
Note the use of -k for the first person plural (Biz) instead of the usual -z.
- Anahtarlarını masada mı bıraktın?
Did you leave your keys on the table?
Word by Word: Keys-your table-on [question] leave-past-you?
The suffix -n indicates the second person singular (Sen). Notice the question particle 'mı' comes right after 'masada', because the question is about the place.
- Onlar partiye geç geldiler.
They came to the party late.
Word by Word: They party-to late come-past-they.
The suffix -ler indicates the third person plural (Onlar).
- Kahve içtiniz mi?
Did you (plural/polite) drink coffee?
Word by Word: Coffee drink-past-you [question]?
The suffix -niz follows vowel harmony after the past tense marker -ti.
Common Mistakes
Using the 'to be' ending (-yım) instead of the past tense ending (-m).
Dün sinemaya gittiyim.Dün sinemaya gittim.Learners often try to apply the Type I endings (like in 'öğrenciyim') to the past tense. The past tense requires the shorter Type II ending '-m'.
Using -z instead of -k for the 'we' form.
Biz ödevimizi yaptıkız.Biz ödevimizi yaptık.The 1st person plural ending for the past tense is uniquely '-k'. Using '-z' is a common morphological error for beginners.
Placing the question particle before the person ending in 1st or 2nd person.
Geldi misin?Geldin mi?In the past tense, the person ending attaches directly to the verb for the 1st and 2nd persons, so the question particle usually comes after the whole verb: Geldin mi? It can follow another word instead when that word is the focus of the question.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn simple past person endings, you first need to know how to form the past tense base using the -di suffix. You also need to be familiar with personal pronouns to know which ending to apply, and understand four-way vowel harmony, as these endings change based on the vowel in the past tense marker.
- -di/-dı (görülen geçmiş)Simple Past
The simple past person endings are attached to the past tense marker -di. One must first understand how to form the past tense base.
Level 2 - ben / sen / oPersonal Pronouns (Singular)
Person endings correspond to personal pronouns; understanding who the subjects are is essential for applying the correct endings.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- -ti/-tıPast Ending After Voiceless Consonants
This is the version of the past tense used after voiceless consonants, which these person endings then attach to.
Level 2 - Dropping the Subject Pronoun
Because these person endings clearly identify the subject, the pronouns are often dropped.
Level 1 - -se/-sa (şart)The Conditional -se
The conditional mood uses the same set of Type II person endings as the past tense.
Level 4 - Where the Question Word Goes
Explains the unique placement of the question particle in the past tense compared to other tenses.
Level 2 - onlar geldi / geldilerPlural Agreement Is Optional
Explains when the 3rd person plural ending -lar/-ler can be omitted.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice -di (kişi ekleri) in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Turkish lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
