Kesmek Conjugation: All Turkish Tenses of 'to cut'
kesmek means “to cut”. Its stem is kes-, so “I am cutting” is kesiyorum, “I cut” is kestim and “I will cut” is keseceğim. Below you'll find every form in 10 tenses and moods, with negatives, questions and English meanings.
Quick facts
- Stem
- kes-infinitive minus -mek
- Meaning
- to cut
- Vowel harmony
- front unrounded (e / i) — last stem vowel e
- Level
- CEFR A2 · #107 of 247 by frequency
At a glance
One form per tense, split into its suffixes. Tap 🔊 to hear it.
- kesiyorumkes·iyor·umPresent Continuous · I am cutting
- kestimkes·ti·mDefinite Past · I cut
- kesmişimkes·miş·imReported Past · I apparently cut
- keseceğimkes·eceğ·imFuture · I will cut
- keserimkes·er·imAorist (Simple Present) · I cut
- kesmeliyimkes·meli·yimNecessitative · I must cut
- kessemkes·se·mConditional · if I cut
- keskesImperative & Optative · Cut!
- kesebilirimkes·ebil·ir·imAbility (can) · I can cut
- kesiyordumkes·iyor·du·mPast Continuous · I was cutting
Example sentences with kesmek
Common mistakes with kesmek
- Incorrect: kesirkeser
One-syllable stems take -Ar in the aorist: keser, keserim. Only 13 verbs such as gelir and alır break this rule. Learn the rule →
- Incorrect: kesmezimkesmem
The negative aorist drops its -z in the first person: kesmem ("I do not cut"), kesmeyiz — but kesmez, kesmezsin. Learn the rule →
- Incorrect: kesecekimkeseceğim
The k of -AcAk softens to ğ before a vowel: keseceğim, keseceğiz — but kesecek and keseceksin keep it. Learn the rule →
Full conjugation of kesmek
All 10 tenses and moods × 6 persons, in positive, negative, question and negative-question form. Imperative questions do not exist for sen and siz.
Present ContinuousŞimdiki Zamankesiyor
Actions happening right now, ongoing situations and near-future plans. Marker: -(I)yor. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | kesiyorumI am cutting | kesmiyorumI am not cutting | kesiyor muyumAm I cutting? | kesmiyor muyumAm I not cutting? |
| senyou | kesiyorsunyou are cutting | kesmiyorsunyou are not cutting | kesiyor musunAre you cutting? | kesmiyor musunAre you not cutting? |
| ohe/she | kesiyorhe/she is cutting | kesmiyorhe/she is not cutting | kesiyor muIs he/she cutting? | kesmiyor muIs he/she not cutting? |
| bizwe | kesiyoruzwe are cutting | kesmiyoruzwe are not cutting | kesiyor muyuzAre we cutting? | kesmiyor muyuzAre we not cutting? |
| sizyou (pl.) | kesiyorsunuzyou (pl.) are cutting | kesmiyorsunuzyou (pl.) are not cutting | kesiyor musunuzAre you (pl.) cutting? | kesmiyor musunuzAre you (pl.) not cutting? |
| onlarthey | kesiyorlarthey are cutting | kesmiyorlarthey are not cutting | kesiyorlar mıAre they cutting? | kesmiyorlar mıAre they not cutting? |
Definite PastGörülen Geçmiş Zamankesti
Completed past actions the speaker witnessed or is certain about. Marker: -DI. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | kestimI cut | kesmedimI did not cut | kestim miDid I cut? | kesmedim miDidn't I cut? |
| senyou | kestinyou cut | kesmedinyou did not cut | kestin miDid you cut? | kesmedin miDidn't you cut? |
| ohe/she | kestihe/she cut | kesmedihe/she did not cut | kesti miDid he/she cut? | kesmedi miDidn't he/she cut? |
| bizwe | kestikwe cut | kesmedikwe did not cut | kestik miDid we cut? | kesmedik miDidn't we cut? |
| sizyou (pl.) | kestinizyou (pl.) cut | kesmedinizyou (pl.) did not cut | kestiniz miDid you (pl.) cut? | kesmediniz miDidn't you (pl.) cut? |
| onlarthey | kestilerthey cut | kesmedilerthey did not cut | kestiler miDid they cut? | kesmediler miDidn't they cut? |
Reported PastÖğrenilen Geçmiş Zamankesmiş
Past events learned from others, inferred, or noticed with surprise. Marker: -mIş. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | kesmişimI apparently cut | kesmemişimI apparently did not cut | kesmiş miyimDid I cut? (reportedly) | kesmemiş miyimDidn't I cut? (reportedly) |
| senyou | kesmişsinyou apparently cut | kesmemişsinyou apparently did not cut | kesmiş misinDid you cut? (reportedly) | kesmemiş misinDidn't you cut? (reportedly) |
| ohe/she | kesmişhe/she apparently cut | kesmemişhe/she apparently did not cut | kesmiş miDid he/she cut? (reportedly) | kesmemiş miDidn't he/she cut? (reportedly) |
| bizwe | kesmişizwe apparently cut | kesmemişizwe apparently did not cut | kesmiş miyizDid we cut? (reportedly) | kesmemiş miyizDidn't we cut? (reportedly) |
| sizyou (pl.) | kesmişsinizyou (pl.) apparently cut | kesmemişsinizyou (pl.) apparently did not cut | kesmiş misinizDid you (pl.) cut? (reportedly) | kesmemiş misinizDidn't you (pl.) cut? (reportedly) |
| onlarthey | kesmişlerthey apparently cut | kesmemişlerthey apparently did not cut | kesmişler miDid they cut? (reportedly) | kesmemişler miDidn't they cut? (reportedly) |
FutureGelecek Zamankesecek
Plans, predictions and decisions about the future. Marker: -(y)AcAk. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | keseceğimI will cut | kesmeyeceğimI will not cut | kesecek miyimWill I cut? | kesmeyecek miyimWon't I cut? |
| senyou | keseceksinyou will cut | kesmeyeceksinyou will not cut | kesecek misinWill you cut? | kesmeyecek misinWon't you cut? |
| ohe/she | kesecekhe/she will cut | kesmeyecekhe/she will not cut | kesecek miWill he/she cut? | kesmeyecek miWon't he/she cut? |
| bizwe | keseceğizwe will cut | kesmeyeceğizwe will not cut | kesecek miyizWill we cut? | kesmeyecek miyizWon't we cut? |
| sizyou (pl.) | keseceksinizyou (pl.) will cut | kesmeyeceksinizyou (pl.) will not cut | kesecek misinizWill you (pl.) cut? | kesmeyecek misinizWon't you (pl.) cut? |
| onlarthey | keseceklerthey will cut | kesmeyeceklerthey will not cut | kesecekler miWill they cut? | kesmeyecekler miWon't they cut? |
Aorist (Simple Present)Geniş Zamankeser
Habits, general truths, willingness and polite requests. Marker: -r / -Ar / -Ir (neg. -mAz). Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | keserimI cut | kesmemI do not cut | keser miyimDo I cut? | kesmez miyimDon't I cut? |
| senyou | kesersinyou cut | kesmezsinyou do not cut | keser misinDo you cut? | kesmez misinDon't you cut? |
| ohe/she | keserhe/she cuts | kesmezhe/she does not cut | keser miDoes he/she cut? | kesmez miDoesn't he/she cut? |
| bizwe | keserizwe cut | kesmeyizwe do not cut | keser miyizDo we cut? | kesmez miyizDon't we cut? |
| sizyou (pl.) | kesersinizyou (pl.) cut | kesmezsinizyou (pl.) do not cut | keser misinizDo you (pl.) cut? | kesmez misinizDon't you (pl.) cut? |
| onlarthey | keserlerthey cut | kesmezlerthey do not cut | keserler miDo they cut? | kesmezler miDon't they cut? |
NecessitativeGereklilik Kipikesmeli
Obligation and advice: must, should, ought to. Marker: -mAlI. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | kesmeliyimI must cut | kesmemeliyimI must not cut | kesmeli miyimMust I cut? | kesmemeli miyimMustn't I cut? |
| senyou | kesmelisinyou must cut | kesmemelisinyou must not cut | kesmeli misinMust you cut? | kesmemeli misinMustn't you cut? |
| ohe/she | kesmelihe/she must cut | kesmemelihe/she must not cut | kesmeli miMust he/she cut? | kesmemeli miMustn't he/she cut? |
| bizwe | kesmeliyizwe must cut | kesmemeliyizwe must not cut | kesmeli miyizMust we cut? | kesmemeli miyizMustn't we cut? |
| sizyou (pl.) | kesmelisinizyou (pl.) must cut | kesmemelisinizyou (pl.) must not cut | kesmeli misinizMust you (pl.) cut? | kesmemeli misinizMustn't you (pl.) cut? |
| onlarthey | kesmelilerthey must cut | kesmemelilerthey must not cut | kesmeliler miMust they cut? | kesmemeliler miMustn't they cut? |
ConditionalDilek-Şart Kipikesse
Conditions and wishes: "if I…", "if only…", "what if I…?". Marker: -sA. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | kessemif I cut | kesmesemif I did not cut | kessem miShould I cut? | kesmesem miShould I not cut? |
| senyou | kessenif you cut | kesmesenif you did not cut | kessen miShould you cut? | kesmesen miShould you not cut? |
| ohe/she | kesseif he/she cut | kesmeseif he/she did not cut | kesse miShould he/she cut? | kesmese miShould he/she not cut? |
| bizwe | kessekif we cut | kesmesekif we did not cut | kessek miShould we cut? | kesmesek miShould we not cut? |
| sizyou (pl.) | kessenizif you (pl.) cut | kesmesenizif you (pl.) did not cut | kesseniz miShould you (pl.) cut? | kesmeseniz miShould you (pl.) not cut? |
| onlarthey | kesselerif they cut | kesmeselerif they did not cut | kesseler miShould they cut? | kesmeseler miShould they not cut? |
Imperative & OptativeEmir ve İstek Kipikes
Commands ("Go!") and suggestions ("Let me…", "Let's…"). Marker: Ø / -sIn / -(y)In; -(y)AyIm / -(y)AlIm. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | keseyimlet me cut | kesmeyeyimlet me not cut | keseyim miShall I cut? | kesmeyeyim miShall I not cut? |
| senyou | kesCut! | kesmeDon't cut! | — | — |
| ohe/she | kessinlet him/her cut | kesmesinlet him/her not cut | kessin miShall he/she cut? | kesmesin miShall he/she not cut? |
| bizwe | keselimlet's cut | kesmeyelimlet's not cut | keselim miShall we cut? | kesmeyelim miShall we not cut? |
| sizyou (pl.) | kesinCut! (pl./polite) | kesmeyinDon't cut! (pl./polite) | — | — |
| onlarthey | kessinlerlet them cut | kesmesinlerlet them not cut | kessinler miShall they cut? | kesmesinler miShall they not cut? |
Ability (can)Yeterlilikkesebilir
What someone can or cannot do, and permission. Marker: -(y)Abil- + aorist (neg. -(y)AmA-). Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | kesebilirimI can cut | kesememI cannot cut | kesebilir miyimCan I cut? | kesemez miyimCan't I cut? |
| senyou | kesebilirsinyou can cut | kesemezsinyou cannot cut | kesebilir misinCan you cut? | kesemez misinCan't you cut? |
| ohe/she | kesebilirhe/she can cut | kesemezhe/she cannot cut | kesebilir miCan he/she cut? | kesemez miCan't he/she cut? |
| bizwe | kesebilirizwe can cut | kesemeyizwe cannot cut | kesebilir miyizCan we cut? | kesemez miyizCan't we cut? |
| sizyou (pl.) | kesebilirsinizyou (pl.) can cut | kesemezsinizyou (pl.) cannot cut | kesebilir misinizCan you (pl.) cut? | kesemez misinizCan't you (pl.) cut? |
| onlarthey | kesebilirlerthey can cut | kesemezlerthey cannot cut | kesebilirler miCan they cut? | kesemezler miCan't they cut? |
Past ContinuousŞimdiki Zamanın Hikâyesikesiyordu
What was happening at a moment in the past. Marker: -(I)yordu. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | kesiyordumI was cutting | kesmiyordumI was not cutting | kesiyor muydumWas I cutting? | kesmiyor muydumWas I not cutting? |
| senyou | kesiyordunyou were cutting | kesmiyordunyou were not cutting | kesiyor muydunWere you cutting? | kesmiyor muydunWere you not cutting? |
| ohe/she | kesiyorduhe/she was cutting | kesmiyorduhe/she was not cutting | kesiyor muyduWas he/she cutting? | kesmiyor muyduWas he/she not cutting? |
| bizwe | kesiyordukwe were cutting | kesmiyordukwe were not cutting | kesiyor muydukWere we cutting? | kesmiyor muydukWere we not cutting? |
| sizyou (pl.) | kesiyordunuzyou (pl.) were cutting | kesmiyordunuzyou (pl.) were not cutting | kesiyor muydunuzWere you (pl.) cutting? | kesmiyor muydunuzWere you (pl.) not cutting? |
| onlarthey | kesiyorlardıthey were cutting | kesmiyorlardıthey were not cutting | kesiyorlar mıydıWere they cutting? | kesmiyorlar mıydıWere they not cutting? |
Related verbs
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of kesmek?
The definite past (-DI) of kesmek is kestim (I cut), kestin, kesti, kestik, kestiniz, kestiler. The negative is kesmedim (I did not cut), and the reported past is kesmiş (he/she apparently cut).
Is kesmek irregular?
No, kesmek is a regular verb. Every tense is built from the stem kes- with the standard suffixes: kesiyorum, kestim, keseceğim, and its aorist keser follows the rule.
How do you say "I will cut" in Turkish?
"I will cut" is keseceğim. "I won't cut" is kesmeyeceğim, and "Will you cut?" is kesecek misin? For plans you have already made, Turkish also uses the present continuous: kesiyorum.
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