Learn Hardcore Turkish: Arkadaşım ile ortak bir plan yaparak kasabada ağaç dikmeyi kararlaştırdık. - By making a common plan with my friend, we decided to plant trees in the small town.

"Arkadaşım ile" translates as "with my friend." The word ile means "with" and is used to indicate that the action (deciding on a plan) was done together with the friend.

How does the participial form "yaparak" function in this sentence?

"Yaparak" comes from the verb yapmak (to do or to make) and uses the -arak suffix to form a participle meaning "by doing" or "by making." In the sentence, it explains the means or method—**by making a joint plan—that led to the decision.

What is the role of "kasabada" in the sentence, and how is it formed?

"Kasabada" is formed by taking kasaba (town) and adding the locative suffix -da, indicating location. It means "in the town" and tells us where the planned tree planting is to occur.

Why is "dikmeyi" used instead of a simple verb form, and what does the "-meyi" suffix signify?

"Dikmeyi" is the infinitive form of dikmek (to plant) turned into a noun-like object by adding the -meyi suffix. This form allows the verb phrase to function as a direct object of kararlaştırdık (we decided), effectively meaning "planting trees."

How is the overall sentence structured, and what is the relationship between the plan-making and the decision?

The sentence is built with multiple parts:
• "Arkadaşım ile" (with my friend) sets the participants.
• "Ortak bir plan yaparak" (by making a joint plan) explains the method or means.
• "Kasabada ağaç dikmeyi" (planting trees in the town) serves as the action that was decided upon.
• "Kararlaştırdık" (we decided) is the main clause that concludes the thought.
Together, they show that the speaker and their friend made a joint plan, through which they reached the decision to plant trees in the town.