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Şarj cihazını takmadan telefon şarj olmuyor.

Şarj cihazını takmadan telefon şarj olmuyor.
The phone doesn’t charge without plugging in the charger.
FromLesson 65inHardcore Turkish
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Breakdown of Şarj cihazını takmadan telefon şarj olmuyor.

telefon
the phone
-madan
without
takmak
to plug in
şarj cihazı
the charger
şarj olmak
to charge

Questions & Answers about Şarj cihazını takmadan telefon şarj olmuyor.

What is the function of -madan in takmadan?

The suffix -madan attaches to a verb stem to create a negative adverbial clause meaning “without doing X.”
tak- (to plug in) + ‌-ma (negation) + ‌-dan (ablative) → takmadan = “without plugging (it) in.”

Why is şarj cihazını in the accusative case?

The verb takmak is transitive and needs a definite object. To show that you’re plugging in a specific charger, you add the accusative suffix -ını to şarj cihazı.
If you meant “a charger” in general (indefinite), you would omit the suffix.

Why does the sentence use şarj olmuyor instead of şarj etmiyor?

Turkish often uses the middle/passive voice for “to get charged.”
• şarj etmek = “to charge (something)” (you charge a device) – transitive
• şarj olmak = “to get charged” – intransitive/middle voice
Since the phone is the one being charged, şarj olmak is more natural: şarj olmuyor = “is not charging.”

Why isn’t telefon marked with a case ending?
Because telefon is the subject of the main clause and appears in the nominative case, which is unmarked in Turkish. Subjects typically don’t need a suffix in basic sentences.
How would you translate the sentence word‐for‐word?

• Şarj cihazını takmadan – “without plugging in the charger”
• telefon – “(the) phone”
• şarj olmuyor – “is not charging”

Altogether: “Without plugging in the charger, the phone doesn’t charge.”

Why are there two negatives (-madan and olmuyor)? Is this a double negative?

They serve different roles:

  1. takmadan = negative subordinate clause (“if/when you do not plug in”)
  2. olmuyor = negative main clause (“it is not happening/charging”)
    Together they mean: “If you don’t plug it in, it won’t charge.”
Can you rearrange the words, for example say “Telefon şarj olmuyor şarj cihazını takmadan”?
No. Turkish typically places the subordinate clause (here takmadan clause) before the main clause, and objects before verbs. The correct order is: [subordinate clause] + [subject] + [verb].
Could you use takmadan önce instead of takmadan?
You could say “Şarj cihazını takmadan önce telefon şarj olmuyor,” but it’s redundant since -madan already conveys “before doing.” Most speakers omit önce in this structure.

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