Learn Hardcore Turkish: Dershanedeki verimsiz ders programı, sınav başarısını düşürüyordu. - The cram school’s inefficient lesson schedule was decreasing exam success.

The -deki suffix combines the locative -de (“in/at”) with the relativizer -ki, turning Dershane into an adjective phrase meaning that which is in the coaching center. So Dershanedeki verimsiz ders programı literally means the inefficient lesson schedule located at the coaching center.

What is a dershane, and how is it different from a regular school?

A dershane is a private extra-curricular coaching center in Turkey, focused on preparing students for university or high-stakes exams. It sits outside the public school system and offers supplementary courses to reinforce or accelerate learning.

Why does the adjective verimsiz come before the noun ders programı?

In Turkish, adjectives always precede the nouns they modify—just like in English. Hence verimsiz must come directly before ders programı, giving us verimsiz ders programı (inefficient lesson schedule).

What exactly does verimsiz mean in this context?

Verimsiz means inefficient, unproductive, or ineffective. Here it suggests that the schedule was poorly organized and failed to help students achieve their best results.

Why is ders programı written as two words, and could you just say program?

Ders programı literally means lesson schedule (ders = lesson, programı = its schedule). While program alone might be understood in context, adding ders specifies that it’s a class schedule rather than a TV program or software.

Why is sınav başarısını in the accusative case (with -ı)?

The verb düşürmek (“to lower” or “cause to fall”) is transitive, so its direct object must take the accusative suffix -ı. Sınav başarısı means exam success, and sınav başarısını marks exam success as the thing being lowered.

What does düşürüyordu mean, and why is the past continuous tense used?

Düşürüyordu is the past continuous form of düşürmek, meaning was lowering. The continuous past ending -(y)ordu indicates an action that was ongoing or repeated in the past, stressing that the schedule habitually harmed exam success.

Why is the verb düşürmek used here instead of the intransitive düşmek or another verb like azaltmak?

Düşürmek is a transitive causative verb meaning to cause something to drop or lower. It requires a direct object (sınav başarısını). The intransitive düşmek (to fall) cannot take an object, and azaltmak (to reduce) is more neutral—düşürmek implies a direct, often negative impact.

Why is there a comma after ders programı, and is it necessary?

The comma creates a slight pause between the subject phrase and the verb phrase, clarifying the cause-and-effect relationship. It’s optional; the sentence remains correct without it: Dershanedeki verimsiz ders programı sınav başarısını düşürüyordu.

Why does the sentence end with the verb instead of the subject as in English, and what is the typical Turkish word order?

Turkish follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order. Here the subject (Dershanedeki verimsiz ders programı) comes first, the object (sınav başarısını) follows, and the verb (düşürüyordu) goes last. English typically uses Subject-Verb-Object (SVO), which is why learners often find Turkish word order inverted.