Q: Why is duvara in the dative case instead of the locative?

The dative case (-a/-e) marks the goal or direction of a motion. Since you are hanging the pictures onto the wall, not just on it, you use duvar + -a → duvara (“onto the wall”). The locative case (-da/-de) would mean “at the wall,” not “towards or onto.”

Question 1

Why does Resimleri take the suffix -i, and what does that suffix indicate?

Accepted Answer

The suffix -i is the accusative (definite object) marker. In Turkish, if the direct object is specific or “definite” (like “the pictures” rather than “pictures in general”), you add -i (with vowel and consonant harmony).  
• resim + ler (plural) → resimler  
• resimler + i (definite object) → resimleri  
So Resimleri means “the pictures” as the definite thing you’re hanging.

Question 2

Why is duvara in the dative case instead of the locative?

Accepted Answer

The dative case (-a/​-e) marks the goal or direction of a motion. Since you are hanging the pictures onto the wall, not just on it, you use duvar + -a → duvara (“onto the wall”). The locative case (-da/​-de) would mean “at the wall,” not “towards or onto.”

Question 3

What does the suffix -ce in düzgünce do?

Accepted Answer

The suffix -ce (one of -ca, -ce, -ça, -çe, chosen by vowel harmony) turns an adjective into an adverb of manner.  
• düzgün (adjective: “neat, proper”)  
• düzgün + -ce → düzgünce (“neatly,” “in a neat manner”)

Question 4

How is asmalısın formed, and what nuance does it carry?

Accepted Answer

asmalısın breaks down as:  
• asmak = “to hang”  
• -malı/-meli = necessity/obligation suffix (“must,” “have to”)  
• -sın = 2nd person singular ending (“you”)

By vowel harmony, -malı attaches (since “a” in as-). So as + -malı + -sın = asmalısın → “you must/you should hang.”

Question 5

Could asmalısın ever express a deduction (“must be hanging”) instead of an obligation?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the same -malı/-meli suffix can also indicate inference or strong probability (“he must be at home”). Context and intonation tell you which. In “Resimleri duvara düzgünce asmalısın,” the instructional tone makes it an obligation (“you have to hang”).

Question 6

Why is there no word for “you” (like sen) in the sentence?

Accepted Answer

Turkish normally drops subject pronouns because the verb ending already encodes person and number. Here -sın in asmalısın clearly marks “you” (2nd person singular), so sen is redundant and usually omitted.

Question 7

What is the default word order here, and how flexible is it?

Accepted Answer

The default Turkish word order is Subject–Object–Indirect Object/Adverbial–Verb (S-O-IO/Adv-V). In our sentence:  
(You) – Resimleri (O) – duvara (IO/place) – düzgünce (adverb) – asmalısın (V).  
Turkish is relatively flexible, but the verb typically comes last.

Question 8

Why is düzgünce placed right before the verb asmalısın rather than earlier?

Accepted Answer

Adverbs of manner usually appear immediately before the verb they modify. That placement focuses on how the action is done (“neatly”) just before you mention the action itself (“hang”).

Resimleri duvara düzgünce asmalısın.

Breakdown of Resimleri duvara düzgünce asmalısın.

Questions & Answers about Resimleri duvara düzgünce asmalısın.

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