Learn Hardcore Turkish: Havayı temiz tutmak için atıkları düzenli olarak toplamalıyız. - We must collect waste regularly to keep the air clean.

Havayı is in the accusative case, marking the air as a definite direct object. We add the suffix -yı (with a buffer y because hava ends in a vowel) to show that it’s the target of the action “keep clean.”

What does temiz tutmak mean, and why not use temizlemek?

Temiz tutmak literally means “to keep (something) clean”, emphasizing ongoing maintenance of a clean state. Temizlemek means “to clean” (a one-time action). Since we want to express maintaining clean air, we use tutmak (“to keep”).

How does -mak için function in temiz tutmak için?

The infinitive suffix -mak plus için forms a purpose clause equivalent to “in order to.” So temiz tutmak için means “in order to keep (it) clean.”

Why is atıkları in the plural and accusative form?

Atık means “waste” or “garbage.” Adding -lar makes it plural (“wastes/garbage” as multiple items) and -ı (with buffer y) marks it in the definite accusative case. Thus atıkları = “the wastes”, the object we must collect.

What is the role of düzenli olarak?

Düzenli is an adjective meaning “regular.” To use it as an adverb meaning “regularly,” Turkish adds olarak. So düzenli olarak modifies the verb toplamalıyız (“we must collect”) to indicate frequency.

What does the suffix -malı in toplamalıyız indicate?

The suffix -malı (or -meli) expresses necessity/obligation (“must” or “have to”). You take the verb stem topla- (“collect”) + -malı → toplamalı (“must collect”), then add the first-person plural ending -yız → toplamalıyız (“we must collect”).

Why is there a buffer consonant y in havayı and toplamalıyız?

Turkish avoids vowel-to-vowel sequences by inserting a buffer consonant when a vowel-ending word takes a vowel-initial suffix. Hence hava + -ı → havayı and toplamalı + -ız → toplamalyız (spelled toplamalıyız).