Rules and usage
The Turkish ability mood, marked by the suffix -abilmek or -ebilmek, expresses whether someone can or is able to do something. It is one of the core ways Turkish speakers describe capability, possibility, or permission. You will encounter this form constantly in conversation and writing.
When and Why You Use the Ability Mood
- The ability mood describes what is possible or within someone's power to do. It appears in sentences about skill, permission, circumstance, and potential. You use it when you want to say that an action can happen, could happen, or is possible. Time does not change the core function; whether you speak about the past, present, or future, the ability mood marks feasibility.
- Ben türkçe konuşabilirim. (I can speak Turkish.)
- Bugün gelmek istiyorum ama gelemeyeceğim. (I want to come today but I won't be able to come.)
- Bunu yapabilir misin? (Can you do this?)
- Herkes buraya girebilir. (Anyone can enter here.)
✅ Positive sentence examples
| Turkish | English |
|---|
| Ben çok hızlı koşabiliyorum. | I can run very fast. |
| O çok iyi İngilizce konuşabiliyor. | She can speak English very well. |
⛔ Negative sentence examples
| Turkish | English |
|---|
| Ben İtalyanca konuşamıyorum. | I cannot speak Italian. |
| O saati bulamıyor. | She cannot find the watch. |
❓ Question sentence examples
| Turkish | English |
|---|
| Sen bu kitabı okuyabiliyor musun? | Can you read this book? |
| O bu çalışmayı bitirebilir mi? | Can she finish this work? |