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Breakdown of Kütüphaneyi temiz tutmak önemli.
olmak
to be
önemli
important
kütüphane
the library
temiz tutmak
to keep clean
Questions & Answers about Kütüphaneyi temiz tutmak önemli.
Why is kütüphaneyi in the accusative case here?
Because it’s the direct object of the infinitive verb tutmak within the noun phrase. In Turkish, when you turn a verb into a noun with -mak (an infinitive) and there’s a definite object, that object takes the accusative -yi suffix.
What does temiz tutmak mean, and how is it different from temizlemek?
Temiz tutmak literally means “to keep something clean,” focusing on maintaining cleanliness over time.
Temizlemek means “to clean (something),” implying a one-time or specific action of cleaning.
Why is there no copula like -dir after önemli?
In casual and spoken Turkish, the copula -dir is often dropped in nominal sentences. Önemli on its own means “(it is) important.” If you want to sound more formal or explicit, you can say önemlidir.
What is the role of the entire phrase Kütüphaneyi temiz tutmak in the sentence’s structure?
The phrase Kütüphaneyi temiz tutmak (keeping the library clean) functions as the subject of the sentence. Then önemli is the predicate adjective meaning “important.”
How would you turn this statement into a question in Turkish?
You can add mi at the end:
Kütüphaneyi temiz tutmak önemli mi?
This means “Is keeping the library clean important?”
How do you give an imperative using this idea (“Keep the library clean!”)?
Use the imperative form of tutmak:
• Informal: Kütüphaneyi temiz tut!
• Formal/polite: Kütüphaneyi temiz tutunuz!
Can you intensify önemli like English “very important”?
Yes, you can add intensifiers such as çok:
Kütüphaneyi temiz tutmak çok önemli.
What if I omit the accusative suffix and say “Kütüphane temiz tutmak önemli”?
Without the accusative suffix, the sentence sounds ungrammatical or at least odd. The object of an infinitive noun needs to be definite, so kütüphaneyi (with -yi) is required.
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