Bulaşıkları yıkamak için deterjan kullanmalısın.

You should use detergent to wash the dishes.

Breakdown of Bulaşıkları yıkamak için deterjan kullanmalısın.

• kullanmak: to use
• için: for
• yıkamak: to wash
• deterjan: the detergent

Questions & Answers about Bulaşıkları yıkamak için deterjan kullanmalısın.

Why does bulaşıkları end with -ları?

bulaşık means “dish.”

• -lar is the plural suffix ⇒ bulaşıklar = “dishes.”
• -ı is the accusative (direct-object) suffix for definite nouns ⇒ bulaşıkları = “the dishes.”

What is yıkamak, and why is it not a finite verb form?

yıkamak is the infinitive form (“to wash”). In Turkish, you add -mak or -mek to the verb stem to create an infinitive. Here it introduces a purpose clause: “in order to wash the dishes.”

What role does için play in this sentence?

için is a postposition meaning “for” or “in order to.” When you attach it to an infinitive (yıkamak için), it marks a purpose:
• bulaşıkları yıkamak için = “in order to wash the dishes.”

What kind of verb form is kullanmalısın?

kullanmalısın breaks down as:
• kullan (use)
• -malı/-meli (necessity/obligation suffix, “must/should”)
• -sın (2nd-person singular suffix).
Altogether it means “you should/must use.”

What exactly does the -malı/-meli suffix express?

The -malı/-meli suffix adds a sense of necessity or advice. It’s softer than a direct order but stronger than a mere suggestion. In English it often corresponds to “should” or “ought to,” though in context it can feel like “must.”

Why doesn’t deterjan have an accusative ending like -ı?

In Turkish, only definite direct objects take the accusative suffix. Here deterjan (“detergent”) is indefinite (any detergent in general), so it stays unmarked. If you meant a specific detergent, you’d say deterjanı kullanmalısın.

How would you make this sentence negative or turn it into a question?

• Negative: insert ma before malı, and add the normal negative copula:
 Bulaşıkları yıkamak için deterjan kullanmamalısın. (“You shouldn’t use detergent…”)
• Question: raise intonation or add mı after the verb:
 Bulaşıkları yıkamak için deterjan kullanmalı mısın? (“Should you use detergent…?”)

Can you express the same idea without using -malı/-meli?

Yes. One common alternative is gerek/gerekmek:
 Bulaşıkları yıkamak için deterjan kullanman gerek.
Here kullanman is the infinitive nominalized for “your using,” and gerek means “necessary.” It still means “You need to use detergent to wash the dishes.”