Ancak komşular daha geç uyandığı için, keşke ev biraz daha sessiz olsaydı diye düşündüm.

However, because the neighbors woke up later, I wished the house had been a bit quieter.

Breakdown of Ancak komşular daha geç uyandığı için, keşke ev biraz daha sessiz olsaydı diye düşündüm.

• olmak: to be
• ev: the house
• komşu: the neighbor
• için: for
• biraz: a bit
• uyanmak: to wake up
• ancak: however
• daha geç: later
• keşke: if only
• daha sessiz: quieter
• düşünmek: to think

Questions & Answers about Ancak komşular daha geç uyandığı için, keşke ev biraz daha sessiz olsaydı diye düşündüm.

What does ancak mean in this sentence?

In this sentence, ancak is used to introduce a contrasting or limiting condition. It often translates to “however” or “but” in English. Here, it sets the stage for the reason that follows, indicating that the speaker’s wish is tied to a specific circumstance.

How does the clause "daha geç uyandığı için" function grammatically?

The clause "daha geç uyandığı için" uses the suffix -dığı için to create an adverbial clause of reason. It means “because they woke up later.” The structure turns the relative clause "daha geç uyandığı" (“woke up later”) into a reason why something happened.

How is the wish or regret expressed in the part "keşke ev biraz daha sessiz olsaydı"?

The expression "keşke … olsaydı" is a common way in Turkish to express a wish or regret about a situation that isn’t real. Here, "keşke ev biraz daha sessiz olsaydı" translates to “I wish the house were a bit quieter,” indicating a desire for a different state of affairs. The use of olsaydı marks the unreal conditional mood.

What role does the phrase "diye düşündüm" play in the sentence?

"Diye" is used to introduce reported speech or an internal thought, and "düşündüm" means “I thought.” Combined, "diye düşündüm" indicates that the preceding wish was the speaker’s internal thought. It effectively marks the boundary between the expressed wish and its attribution as a personal reflection.

How is the degree of quietness expressed with "biraz daha sessiz"?

In "biraz daha sessiz," the word "biraz" means “a little” or “a bit,” and "daha sessiz" means “quieter.” Together, they express a modest degree of increased quietness in the house. This construction is typical in Turkish for indicating a small enhancement or change in a quality.

How does the word order in this Turkish sentence compare to typical English sentence structure?

Turkish often places subordinate clauses, like the reason "komşular daha geç uyandığı için" (“because the neighbors woke up later”), at the beginning of the sentence. The main thought follows, here encapsulated in the wish "keşke ev biraz daha sessiz olsaydı", with the thinking verb "diyen düşündüm" at the very end. In English, similar information might be structured in a different order (often with the main clause first or using a different emphasis), so this inversion might feel unusual to English speakers until they become more accustomed to Turkish syntax.