makas: scissors and tool use

The idea

Makas means scissors. The specific object is makası; makasla means “with scissors” and makasım means my scissors. A single pair is expressed by singular makas.

Examples

• Makası sabah çekmeceye koydum.I put the scissors in the drawer in the morning.
• Küçük makas masanın üzerinde duruyor.The small scissors are on the table.
• Bugün kâğıdı makasla dikkatle kestik.Today we carefully cut the paper with scissors.
• Bu makas çok keskin.These scissors are very sharp.
• Makasım mavi saplı.My scissors have blue handles.
• İki makas kutunun içinde.Two pairs of scissors are in the box.

Watch out

English “scissors” is plural in form, but Turkish makas is singular for one pair. Do not confuse object makası with tool form makasla.

Try it yourself

1. Use the definite object: I put the scissors in the drawer in the morning. Sabah ___ çekmeceye koydum.

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   makası

   makası: -ı marks the specific scissors as the object.

2. Use the tool form: Today we carefully cut the paper with scissors. Kâğıdı bugün ___ dikkatle kestik.

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   makasla / makas ile

   makasla: -la means “with” and identifies the tool used.

3. Use the possessive: My scissors have blue handles. Benim ___ mavi saplı.

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   makasım

   makasım: -ım marks the speaker’s scissors.

Use it today

Describe scissors and write a sentence about cutting paper.