Kalem Declension: Turkish Cases of 'pen'
kalem means “pen, pencil”. Its last vowel is e, so 2-way suffixes use e (kalemler) and 4-way suffixes use i (kalemin). It is a regular noun: suffixes attach directly to kalem, as in kalemi and kalemde.
Quick facts
- Plural
- kalemler
- pens
- Harmony
- Front unrounded
- suffix vowels e / i
- Ends in
- a consonant
- suffixes attach directly
- Object form
- kalemi
- accusative, “the pen”
Rules this noun follows
- Linking vowel — A harmonised vowel is inserted after a consonant (kitab-ı-m).kalemim, kalemin
- Pronominal n — After a 3rd-person possessive, case suffixes take n (arabası-n-ı, evi-n-de).kalemini, kaleminde
Kalem in all seven cases
The added suffix is highlighted. Plural forms put -ler before the case ending.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| NominativeYalın hâl · no ending | kalempen | kalemlerpens |
| AccusativeBelirtme hâli · -(y)I | kalemithe pen (object) | kalemlerithe pens (object) |
| DativeYönelme hâli · -(y)A | kalemeto the pen | kalemlereto the pens |
| LocativeBulunma hâli · -DA | kalemdein / at the pen | kalemlerdein / at the pens |
| AblativeAyrılma hâli · -DAn | kalemdenfrom the pen | kalemlerdenfrom the pens |
| Genitiveİlgi hâli · -(n)In | kaleminthe pen's / of the pen | kalemlerinthe pens's / of the pens |
| InstrumentalVasıta hâli · -(y)lA | kalemlewith the pen | kalemlerlewith the pens |
Possessive forms: “my pen”, “your pen”…
The possessive suffix comes first, then the case. After the 3rd-person forms a case ending takes an extra n (kaleminde). See possessive suffixes.
| Owner | Nominative | Accusative | Dative | Locative | Ablative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| benimmy | kalemimmy pen | kalemimimy pen (object) | kalemimeto my pen | kalemimdein / at my pen | kalemimdenfrom my pen |
| seninyour | kaleminyour pen | kaleminiyour pen (object) | kalemineto your pen | kalemindein / at your pen | kalemindenfrom your pen |
| onunhis/her/its | kalemihis/her pen | kaleminihis/her pen (object) | kalemineto his/her pen | kalemindein / at his/her pen | kalemindenfrom his/her pen |
| bizimour | kalemimizour pen | kalemimiziour pen (object) | kalemimizeto our pen | kalemimizdein / at our pen | kalemimizdenfrom our pen |
| sizinyour (pl.) | kaleminizyour (pl.) pen | kaleminiziyour (pl.) pen (object) | kaleminizeto your (pl.) pen | kaleminizdein / at your (pl.) pen | kaleminizdenfrom your (pl.) pen |
| onlarıntheir | kalemleritheir pens | kalemlerinitheir pens (object) | kalemlerineto their pens | kalemlerindein / at their pens | kalemlerindenfrom their pens |
Plural + possessive: kalemlerim (my pens) · kalemlerin (your pens) · kalemleri (his/her pens) · kalemlerimiz (our pens) · kalemleriniz (your (pl.) pens) · kalemleri (their pens)
Kalem in example sentences
Watch out with kalem
- Two meanings of kalemin. kalemin is both "of the pen" (genitive) and "your pen" (possessive). kalemi is likewise both the object form and "his/her pen". Rule →
Related nouns and resources
Related nouns: everyday objects
- bilgisayar computer
- çanta bag
- defter notebook
- fotoğraf photo
- gazete newspaper
- hediye gift
- kâğıt paper
- kitap book
- para money
- resim picture
Other front-vowel A1 nouns
Questions about kalem
What is the plural of kalem?
The plural of kalem ("pen") is kalemler. The plural suffix follows 2-way vowel harmony: the last vowel of kalem is e, a front vowel, so it takes -ler. The plural then takes case endings: kalemleri, kalemlerde, kalemlerden.
How do you say "to the pen" in Turkish?
"To the pen" is kaleme, the dative case (-e). Similarly, "in / at the pen" is kalemde (locative) and "from the pen" is kalemden (ablative).
How do you say "my pen" in Turkish?
"My pen" is kalemim (often with the pronoun: benim kalemim). "Your pen" is kalemin, "his/her pen" is kalemi and "my pens" is kalemlerim.
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