Güneş açarsa, dışarıda piknik yaparız.

If the sun comes out, we will have a picnic outside.

Breakdown of Güneş açarsa, dışarıda piknik yaparız.

• dışarıda: outside
• güneş: the sun
• -arsa: if
• piknik: the picnic

Questions & Answers about Güneş açarsa, dışarıda piknik yaparız.

What does the suffix -arsa in açarsa indicate?

In Turkish, the suffix -arsa attaches to the verb stem (from açmak) to form a conditional clause, meaning “if” the verb’s action occurs. Thus, açarsa means “if it opens” or, idiomatically for the sun, “if it shines.”

Why is the verb açmak (which literally means “to open”) used when referring to the sun?

Although açmak literally means “to open,” it is idiomatically used with güneş (sun) in Turkish to express that the sun is coming out or shining. This common expression is understood to mean “if the sun shines.”

What does dışarıda mean and what role does it play in the sentence?

Dışarıda means “outside.” It functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the location where the picnic will be held.

How is the subject “we” represented in piknik yaparız?

In Turkish, subject pronouns are often omitted because they are embedded in the verb ending. The ending -arız indicates the first person plural, so piknik yaparız means “we have a picnic” or “we do a picnic,” with “we” implied by the conjugation.

Which tense is used in the main clause piknik yaparız, and why does it imply a future action?

The verb yaparız is in the simple present (or aorist) tense. In Turkish, this tense can express future actions in the context of a conditional sentence, suggesting that the picnic will take place if the condition (the sun shining) is met.

How does this Turkish conditional sentence compare to English conditionals?

Both Turkish and English use a condition followed by a result, as in “if the sun shines, we have a picnic.” However, Turkish forms the conditional by adding a suffix (like -arsa) directly to the verb, instead of using a separate word for “if.”

Why is there a comma after Güneş açarsa in the sentence?

The comma separates the subordinate (conditional) clause from the main clause. This punctuation clarifies that Güneş açarsa sets up the condition, while dışarıda piknik yaparız states the outcome that depends on that condition.