Learn Hardcore Turkish: Ben her hafta sonu kütüphanede gönüllü olmak istiyorum. - I want to volunteer at the library every weekend.

In Turkish, subject pronouns like ben (I) are optional because the verb ending -yorum already tells you it’s first person singular. You can say
Her hafta sonu kütüphanede gönüllü olmak istiyorum.
without ben, and it will still mean “I want….”. Including ben adds emphasis or clarity.

What’s the word order in this sentence?

Turkish typically follows Subject–Time–Place–Object–Verb order. Here:
• Subject: Ben (optional)
• Time: her hafta sonu (every weekend)
• Place: kütüphanede (at the library)
• Verb phrase: gönüllü olmak istiyorum (I want to volunteer)

Why is it her hafta sonu and not her hafta sonları or her haftada sonu?

• Her (“each/every”) always pairs with a singular noun, so you say her hafta (every week) and her hafta sonu (every weekend).
• Hafta sonu is the fixed phrase for “weekend.”
• Her hafta sonları would sound like “every weekends” (ungrammatical), and her haftada sonu misplaces the time expression.

What is the role of -de in kütüphanede?

-de is the locative suffix meaning “in/at.” When you attach it to kütüphane (library), you get kütüphanede, meaning “at the library.” Vowel harmony gives -de rather than -da because kütüphane ends in -e, a front vowel.

Why isn’t there a space between kütüphane and de?

Locative suffixes in Turkish attach directly to the noun without a space. So you write kütüphanede, not kütüphane de (that second word de would mean “also”).

What does gönüllü olmak literally mean, and why is it used here?

Gönüllü is a noun/adjective meaning “volunteer” or “willing.” Olmak means “to become” or “to be.” Together, gönüllü olmak means “to volunteer” (literally “to be a volunteer”). It’s the natural way to say “to volunteer” in Turkish.

How does istemek work with other verbs like olmak here?

İstemek means “to want.” When you want to combine it with another action, you put the second verb in its infinitive form (mainly -mak/-mek) and then conjugate istemek. For example:
• gitmek istiyorum (“I want to go”)
• yemek istiyorum (“I want to eat”)
• gönüllü olmak istiyorum (“I want to volunteer”)

Can I express “once a week” instead of “every weekend”? How?

Yes. If you want “once a week,” you can say haftada bir. So:
Haftada bir kütüphanede gönüllü olmak istiyorum.
This means “I want to volunteer at the library once a week.” It’s different from her hafta sonu, which specifically means “every weekend.”