Learn Hardcore Turkish: Senin kalemini ödünç alabilmek için nazikçe izin istemelisin. - You should politely ask permission to borrow your pen.

kalem (pen) takes two suffixes here: -in marks the 2nd person singular possessive (“your”), and -i marks the definite direct object (accusative case). Combined, they form kalemini (“your pen” as the object).

Why do we need to include senin, since possession is already marked on kalemini?

Turkish often allows a redundant possessive pronoun for clarity or emphasis. The suffix -in on kalemini already means “your pen,” so you can drop senin. Including senin explicitly highlights or clarifies whose pen it is.

Why is it ödünç alabilmek instead of just ödünç almak?

The embedded suffix -ebil (in alabilmek) expresses ability: “to be able to borrow.” So ödünç alabilmek için means “in order to be able to borrow.” You could say ödünç almak için (“in order to borrow”) but alabilmek adds the nuance of capability.

What role does için play in this sentence?

için marks purpose or reason: “for” or “in order to.” Placed after the infinitive ödünç alabilmek, it introduces the goal of the action: “in order to be able to borrow.”

What does the suffix -meli in istemelisin express?

The -meli/-malı suffix indicates necessity or obligation. Attached to istemek (“to ask/request”), istemelisin means “you should ask” or “you must ask.”

Why do we say izin istemek instead of izin almak here?

Both expressions are correct. izin istemek literally means “to ask for permission,” emphasizing the act of requesting. izin almak means “to get permission,” focusing on the result of obtaining it. Since the sentence stresses “ask politely,” izin istemek is the more precise choice.

Could we use kibarca instead of nazikçe? Are they the same?

Yes. nazikçe and kibarca are synonyms meaning “politely” or “courteously.” Swapping them doesn’t change the meaning: ödünç alabilmek için kibarca izin istemelisin is just as correct.

Why is the subject pronoun sen (“you”) not explicitly present?

Turkish verbs are conjugated to show the subject. istemelisin ends in -sin, marking 2nd person singular, so sen is understood and usually omitted unless you want extra emphasis.

Can we switch the order of the purpose clause and the main clause?

Yes, Turkish has relatively free word order. You could say:
Nazikçe izin istemelisin senin kalemini ödünç alabilmek için.
However, placing the purpose clause first (as in the original) is more natural to signal “in order to…” before the main action.