Learn Hardcore Turkish: Herkes bu projeye katkıda bulunmalı. - Everyone should contribute to this project.

Katkıda bulunmak is a common Turkish expression meaning “to contribute.” It’s a compound of katkı (contribution) + locative -da + bulunmak (to be found/present), but taken together it simply means “to take part in or add something valuable.” In the sentence Herkes bu projeye katkıda bulunmalı, it means “Everyone should contribute to this project.”

Why is there a -da in katkıda? Isn’t that a locative suffix?

Yes. Grammatically, -da is the locative case (“in/at”), but in the idiom katkıda bulunmak, the “being in contribution” idea turns into the single meaning “to contribute.” You won’t translate the locative literally; you treat the whole phrase as a fixed verb.

Why is bu projeye in the dative case (ending in -e)?

The dative case (-e/-a) marks the target or direction of an action—“to” something. Since you contribute to a project, proje takes -e: bu projeye = “to this project.”

What does the suffix -malı on bulunmalı express?

The suffix -malı/-meli indicates necessity or obligation—similar to “must” or “should” in English. So katkıda bulunmalı means “must/should contribute.”

Why is the verb bulunmalı in the third person singular even though herkes refers to “everyone”?

In Turkish, indefinite or general subjects like herkes (everyone) take the 3rd person singular verb form with the jussive -malı:
• Herkes gelmeli. (“Everyone should come.”)
• Herkes katkıda bulunmalı. (“Everyone should contribute.”)

What if I replace herkes with hepimiz (“all of us”)? How does the verb change?

Hepimiz is 1st person plural (“we all”), so the verb must agree in 1st person plural with -malı plus the personal ending -yız:
Herkes bu projeye katkıda bulunmalı.
vs.
Hepimiz bu projeye katkıda bulunmalıyız.
= “We all should contribute to this project.”

Could I say Herkes bu projeye katkı vermeli instead?

Yes, katkı vermek (“to give a contribution”) is also correct and common. It’s slightly more literal:
Herkes bu projeye katkı vermeli.
Both mean “Everyone should contribute to this project,” but katkıda bulunmak sounds a bit more formal or idiomatic.

How would I turn this into a question like “Should everyone contribute to this project?”

Insert the question particle -mı/-mi/-mu/-mü after the verb’s last vowel and add the personal ending if needed:
Herkes bu projeye katkıda bulunmalı mı?
= “Should everyone contribute to this project?”

Can I omit herkes and still convey the same idea?

Yes, Turkish often drops pronouns/subjects when they’re understood.
Bu projeye katkıda bulunmalı.
Without herkes, it’s more like an impersonal recommendation: “One should contribute to this project” or “(People) should contribute to this project.”

How would I express that everyone had to contribute (i.e. past necessity)?

Use the past-tense necessity suffix -malıydı/-meliydi:
Herkes bu projeye katkıda bulunmalıydı.
= “Everyone had to contribute to this project.”