To change a verb to indicate ability or inability, add –ebil or –eme respectively before the tense ending. The –i in -ebil does not change in accordance with vowel harmony, so all additional elements harmonise on –i. However, –eme can become –ama in accordance with the rules of vowel harmony.
Yaptım. – I did it.
Yapabildim. – I was able to do it.
Yapamadım. – I was unable to do it.
Dans ediyoruz. – We are dancing.
Dans edebiliriz. – We can dance/we are able to dance.
Dans edemiyoruz. – We cannot dance/we don’t know how to dance.
Varacak. – He/she/it will arrive.
Saat ikiye kadar varabilecek. – He/she/it may/will be able to arrive by two o’clock.
These elements are added after other sentence elements such as passives and causatives:
Seni öldürebilirdim! – I could have killed you!
Kabul edilemeyecek. – It will not be able to be accepted.
In the negative for the “wide” simple tense, –eme simply takes the place of –me.
Seçmez. – He/she does not choose/elect.
Seçemez. – He/she cannot choose/elect.
Seçilmez. – He/she will not be elected.
Seçilemez. – He/she cannot be elected.
Seçilir. – He/she will be elected.
Seçilebilir. – He/she could be elected.
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