Learn Hardcore Turkish: Projeyi hesaplayarak toplam maliyeti öğrendik. - By calculating the project, we learned its total cost.

“Hesaplayarak” comes from the verb “hesaplamak” (to calculate) with the adverbial participle suffix -arak attached. It translates as “by calculating” and explains the method or means by which the main action was achieved. In this sentence, it modifies the main verb “öğrendik” to indicate that the total cost was learned by calculating the project.

Why is “Projeyi” in the accusative case, and what role does it play?

“Projeyi” is the accusative form of “proje” (project) because it is the direct object of the subordinate idea implied by “hesaplayarak.” The accusative case marks it as a definite noun that is being acted upon—in this case, the project that was calculated as part of finding out the total cost.

How is “toplam maliyeti” used in the sentence, and why does it have an accusative ending?

“Toplam maliyeti” means “the total cost” and serves as the direct object of the main verb “öğrendik.” The accusative ending -i on “maliyet” signals that it is a specific, definite cost that was determined. In Turkish, definite objects of a transitive verb are typically marked in this way.

What information does the verb “öğrendik” provide about the subject of the sentence?

“Öğrendik” is the past tense, first-person plural form of “öğrenmek” (to learn, or find out). This conjugation implies that the subject is “we,” even though the subject isn’t explicitly stated. Turkish verb endings often indicate the subject, allowing speakers to omit pronouns when they are clear from the context.

How does the sentence structure reflect typical Turkish syntax?

Turkish generally follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order. In this sentence, the subject (“we”) is implied by the verb ending -dik on “öğrendik.” The object of the calculation (“Projeyi”) comes first with its associated participial phrase “hesaplayarak,” followed by the object of the main verb (“toplam maliyeti”). This order emphasizes the means (calculating the project) before revealing the outcome (learning the total cost).

Why might a learner find the use of adverbial participles like “hesaplayarak” challenging?

Adverbial participles in Turkish, formed with suffixes like -arak/-erek, can be challenging because they condense a subordinate action into a single word. Learners must understand that “hesaplayarak” expresses “by calculating” without a separate clause, and it connects closely to the main verb. This compact form requires careful attention to both verb conjugations and case markings to understand how it relates to the overall sentence meaning.

Could this sentence be expressed using a different verb for “öğrendik,” and what would the nuance be?

Yes, the sentence could be rephrased using a different verb such as “bulduk” (found out). For example: “Projeyi hesaplayarak toplam maliyeti bulduk.” While both verbs convey the idea of discovering the cost, “öğrendik” emphasizes acquiring the information (learning it), whereas “bulduk” can imply a more active process of finding or calculating. The choice depends on the nuance the speaker wishes to convey.