Learn Hardcore Turkish: Bazı durumlar istisna yaratabilir, ama bu çok nadiren gerçekleşir. - Some situations may create exceptions, but this happens very rarely.

Bazı durumlar = “some situations” (you don’t specify how many).
Birkaç durum = “a few situations” (implies a small, countable number, usually 2–5).

So if you want “a few,” use birkaç; if you just mean “some/unspecified,” use bazı.

Why is durumlar plural, and could you use it in the singular?

Durum means “situation” in the singular. When you say bazı durumlar, you’re automatically referring to multiple situations, so you need the plural -lar suffix. You cannot pair bazı with a singular noun. If you wanted just one situation, you’d drop bazı and say Bir durum istisna yaratabilir (“One situation can create an exception”), or use another determiner like her (every) or bir (a).

What does istisna mean, and why is it singular here when durumlar is plural?

İstisna means “exception.” In Turkish, you can have multiple situations (durumlar) that each yaratabilir (“can create”) a single istisna in a general sense. Think of it like “several doors can lead to the same room.” It’s perfectly natural to have a plural subject with a singular object when that object conceptually stays the same.

How does the phrase istisna yaratabilir translate literally, and is it a set expression?

Literally, istisna (exception) + yaratabilir (can create) = “can create an exception.”

yaratmak = to create, to produce
-abilir = ability/possibility suffix (“can/able to”)

While istisna yapmak (“to make an exception”) also exists, istisna yaratmak emphasizes the generation or production of the exception, and is common in formal/written Turkish.

What role does the -abilir suffix play in yaratabilir?

The -abilir/-ebilir suffix marks the potential mood—that is, it expresses ability or possibility. You attach it to the verb stem according to vowel harmony:

yarat (stem) + -abilir → yaratabilir = “can/able to create.”
It functions like English “can,” “may,” or “be able to.”

In the second clause, what does bu refer to?

Bu literally means “this.” In context, it stands in for the idea “creating an exception” or “that possibility” mentioned just before. Turkish often uses bu (or şu, o) to refer back to an entire previous clause or concept.

What is the meaning of gerçekleşir, and how is it different from olur?

Gerçekleşmek means “to happen,” “to occur,” or “to come about.”

gerçekleşir = “it happens,” “it takes place.”
Olmak is more general (“to be,” “to become”). Although you could say nadiren olur (“rarely happens”), gerçekleşir often sounds more formal or precise, especially for events, phenomena, or processes.

Why is çok used with nadiren, and can you drop it?

Nadiren alone means “rarely.” Adding çok (“very”/“much”) intensifies it to “very rarely” or “extremely rarely.” It’s like English “very rarely” vs. just “rarely.” You can drop çok if you only mean “rarely,” but with çok nadiren you emphasize that it almost never happens.

Why does the verb come at the end in ama bu çok nadiren gerçekleşir, and why is ama placed at the start of that clause?

Turkish is an S-O-V (subject-object-verb) language. In bu çok nadiren gerçekleşir:

bu = subject
çok nadiren = adverbial modifier
gerçekleşir = verb

Ama means “but” and typically comes at the beginning of the second clause, often following a comma. So the structure is entirely normal: subordinate idea first, then ama + main clause in S-O-V order.