Learn Hardcore Turkish: Gönderici, alıcıdan onay alınmadan paket yollamadı. - The sender didn’t send the package without the recipient’s approval.

The suffix -madan (or -meden after front vowels) means “without doing X.” It attaches to a verb stem and turns it into an adverbial clause.

Here alınmak is the passive verb “to be received.”
alınmadan literally = “without being received.”

Why is alınmadan in the passive voice instead of the active almadan?

Because the person receiving the approval is the recipient, not the sender.

Almak = someone actively takes/receives.
Alınmak = the action is done to the subject (“to be taken/received”).
Since the sender did not receive the approval, we express “without approval being received” with the passive alınmadan.

Why is alıcıdan in the ablative case with -dan?

The ablative -dan/-den means “from.”

alıcı = “recipient”
alıcıdan onay = “approval from the recipient.”
We need -dan to show the source of the approval.

Why is there a comma after Gönderici?

The comma marks a slight pause or emphasis when the topic/subject is fronted. Turkish allows topic prominence, so you can say:
• Gönderici, ... (As for the sender, …)
It’s optional but clarifies that gönderici is the topic of the sentence.

Why doesn’t paket take the definite accusative marker -i (i.e. paketi)?

In Turkish, the definite accusative -(y)ı/-(y)i/-(y)u/-(y)ü is used when the object is specific and known.

Here it’s a general statement (“the sender did not send a package”), so the object remains indefinite: paket.

How is negation formed in yollamadı?

Negation uses the suffix -ma/-me placed before tense/mood endings. For yollamak (“to send”):

Verb stem: yolla-
Negative: yolla + ma → yollama-
Past tense: yollama + dı → yollamadı (“he/she/it did not send”)

What is the difference between yollamak and göndermek?

Both mean “to send,” but:
• yollamak is more colloquial and can imply “to dispatch” or “to mail/send off.”
• göndermek is slightly more formal and common in written contexts (email, official letters, etc.).
In daily speech they’re often interchangeable.

Could we use onaylamak instead of onay almak?

They’re related but not interchangeable here:
• onaylamak = “to approve (something).” The approver does the action.
• onay almak = “to get/receive approval.” The requester does the action.
Since the sender needs to get approval, you must say onay almak.

What kind of clause is alıcıdan onay alınmadan, and why is it placed before the main clause?

It’s an adverbial clause of condition/time (sometimes called a “-madan clause”). Turkish word order is generally Subject – Object – Verb, and subordinate clauses typically precede the main verb. Here:
• [Adverbial clause] + [Main clause]
• alıcıdan onay alınmadan (Without approval being received)
• paket yollamadı (he did not send the package)

How would you express the positive counterpart, “The sender sent the package after getting approval”?

Use the -arak / -erek gerund form to mean “by doing X / after doing X”:
• Gönderici, alıcıdan onay alarak paket yolladı.
Literally: “The sender, having received approval from the recipient, sent the package.”