Learn Hardcore Turkish: Mezar taşı eski yazıları saklıyor.

In Turkish the subject of a simple sentence normally appears without any case suffix—it stays in its dictionary (nominative) form. Here Mezar taşı is a compound noun (“grave” + “stone”), and as the subject it doesn’t need an extra ending.

Why is the object “eski yazıları” marked with “-ı”?

Because it’s a definite direct object. Turkish uses the accusative suffix (one of -ı, ‑i, ‑u, ‑ü) on objects that are specific or known. Here “the old writings” are specific, so yazılar (writings + plural -lar) takes the accusative -ı, giving yazıları.

What is the word order in “Mezar taşı eski yazıları saklıyor”?

Turkish follows Subject–Object–Verb (SOV) order.
• Mezar taşı = Subject
• eski yazıları = Object
• saklıyor = Verb

Why is the adjective “eski” placed before “yazıları” rather than after?

In Turkish, adjectives always precede the nouns they modify. So eski (old) comes before yazıları (writings).

What does the verb “saklıyor” mean exactly?

The root verb saklamak means “to hide,” “to store,” or “to preserve.” The form saklıyor is third-person singular present continuous, literally “is hiding,” but in Turkish it often expresses a general or habitual action, so you’d translate it as “hides” or “preserves.”