Learn Hardcore Turkish: Ekipman fiyatları bazen beklenenden yüksek. - Equipment prices are sometimes higher than expected.

ekipman = “equipment” (bare noun, no plural or possessive)
fiyatları = fiyat (price) + -lar (plural) + -ı (3rd person singular possessive) → “its/their prices”
So together you get “equipment prices.”

Why do we see both -lar (plural) and -ı (possessive) on fiyatları?

In Turkish compounds of the form “X prices,” the second noun takes:
1) -lar to mark plural (“prices” instead of “price”)
2) -ı as the 3rd person singular possessive, linking it back to ekipman (“equipment’s prices”).
This is how you say “prices of the equipment.”

Could we instead say ekipmanların fiyatları? If so, what’s the nuance?

Yes, ekipmanların fiyatları is grammatically correct and means “the prices of the pieces of equipment.”

ekipmanların = ekipman
- -lar (plural equipment items) + -ın (3rd person poss)
  This emphasizes individual items of equipment, whereas ekipman fiyatları is more general (equipment as a whole).

Why is there no -ı or -in on ekipman in the original phrase?

Because ekipman is the first element of a compound and remains in its bare (uninflected) form. The possessive marking moves to the second noun (fiyatları), which shows the link.

What does bazen do in the sentence? Could it go somewhere else?

bazen is an adverb meaning “sometimes.” It modifies the whole clause “equipment prices are higher than expected.”
Common positions:

At the very beginning: Bazen ekipman fiyatları…
Before the verb/adjective: Ekipman fiyatları bazen…
Less common: Ekipman fiyatları beklenenden bazen yüksek.
Putting it first is most natural: it sets the “sometimes” context.

Why is it beklenenden rather than just beklenen or beklenti?

beklenen = “the expected (thing)” (present participle, nominalized)
-den = ablative case, often used in comparisons meaning “than/from.”
So beklenenden = “than what is expected.”
Using beklenti (“expectation”) would give beklentiden, which is grammatical but less direct:
“ekipman fiyatları bazen beklentiden yüksek” = “prices are sometimes higher than the expectation,” somewhat more abstract.

Why isn’t there a daha before yüksek to make the comparative?

Comparatives in Turkish can be formed in two ways:
1) With daha + adjective + -den clause:
“Ekipman fiyatları bazen beklenenden daha yüksek.”
2) Omitting daha and relying on the ablative -den alone, which also implies “more”:
“Ekipman fiyatları bazen beklenenden yüksek.”
The second is more concise and common in technical or spoken contexts. Both mean “higher than expected.”

Can we break down yüksek here? Does it change form?

yüksek is a standard adjective meaning “high” or “tall.”

It does not get plural or possessive here because it describes fiyatları.
No additional suffix is needed for degree if you use the ablative comparison (see previous answer).

If I want to say “the equipment prices were unexpectedly high,” how would I modify this sentence?

You can add beklenmedik (“unexpected”) as an adverb:
“Ekipman fiyatları beklenmedik şekilde yüksek.”
Or use beklenmedik + -çe:
“Ekipman fiyatları beklenmedikçe yüksekti.”
But the first is more natural: şekilde means “in an ... way.”

Is there any difference if I switch yüksek with pahalı (expensive)?

Yes.

yüksek (high) typically describes numerical values (prices, levels, rates).
pahalı (expensive) describes costliness or value perception of the item.
So:
Ekipman fiyatları bazen beklenenden yüksek. → “Equipment prices are sometimes higher than expected.” (focus on number)
Ekipman pahalı. → “The equipment is expensive.” (focus on how it feels or seems expensive)