Learn Hardcore Turkish: Gardırop kapılarını açalım ve montları sehpanın üzerine koyalım. - Let’s open the wardrobe doors and place the coats on the coffee table.

The segment kapı is “door,” -lar is the plural marker (“doors”), and -ını is the accusative (definite direct object) suffix. So kapılarını literally means “the doors (of it/the wardrobe)” as a specific object you want to open.

Why do kapılarını and montları take the accusative ending, while we don’t put a suffix on gardırop or sehpa?

In Turkish, you add the accusative suffix -(n)ı/-(n)i/-(n)u/-(n)ü only when the object is definite or known to the speaker (like “the doors,” “the coats”). You leave objects without the ending if they’re indefinite or nonspecific (“open doors,” “hang coats”). Gardırop and sehpa are the locations here, not direct objects, so they don’t take the accusative.

What is the function of -alım in açalım and koyalım?

-alım/-elim is the first-person plural hortative suffix in Turkish, equivalent to English “let’s.” It tells you “let’s open” (açalım) and “let’s put” (koyalım) – inviting both speaker and listener to do something together.

Why does aç- become aça- before -lım, making açalım instead of açlım?

Turkish avoids difficult consonant clusters, so when a verb root ending in ç meets a suffix starting with l, an extra vowel (a) is inserted. This is called an epenthetic vowel. Thus aç- + -lım → açalım.

What does montları break down into, and why is it plural and accusative?

Mont = “coat/jacket,” -lar = plural, -ı = accusative (definite). So montları means “the coats” as the specific items you’re going to put on the table.

Why is sehpanın üzerine formed with -nın and not just sehpa üzerine?

Sehpanın is the genitive form of sehpa (“table”). When you use the postposition üzerine (“onto/on top of”), Turkish often requires the possessor-style construction X-nın üzerine to mean “on top of X” or “onto X.” So sehpanın üzerine = “onto the coffee table.”

What’s the difference between üzerine and üzerinde?

Both come from üzer (“above/on”).

üzerine (+ dative sense) = “onto,” implying movement onto a surface.
üzerinde (+ locative) = “on” or “on top of”, describing a static location.
Here, koyalım (“let’s put”) involves moving the coats onto the table, so üzerine is preferred.

Can you omit ve in this sentence? What role does ve play?

Ve simply means “and,” linking two verbs (açalım and koyalım). In casual speech you can drop ve and say “Gardırop kapılarını açalım, montları sehpanın üzerine koyalım.” The meaning remains the same, it just feels more conversational.