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Breakdown of Regülasyona uymalıyız, aksi takdirde proje zarar görür.
aksi takdirde
otherwise
-a
to
uymak
to comply
proje
project
regülasyon
regulation
zarar görmek
to suffer
Questions & Answers about Regülasyona uymalıyız, aksi takdirde proje zarar görür.
Why does Regülasyona end with -a, and what case is this?
Regülasyona carries the dative case (suffix -a). The Turkish verb uymak (to comply with) requires its object in the dative, so it literally means to the regulation.
What does uymalıyız mean, and how is it constructed?
uymalıyız = root uy- (from uymak, to comply) + necessity suffix -malı (must/should) + first-person-plural ending -yız (we). Altogether it means we must comply.
Why is there a y between uymalı and -ız in uymalıyız?
The y is a buffer consonant that connects the vowel-ending stem uymalı to the vowel-initial ending -ız, preventing two vowels from colliding.
What does the suffix -malı/-meli express, and how do you choose between -malı and -meli?
The suffix -malı/-meli expresses necessity (must/have to). You choose by vowel harmony: if the verb root has a back vowel (a, ı, o, u), use -malı; if it has a front vowel (e, i, ö, ü), use -meli. Here the root vowel u is back, so -malı is correct.
What does aksi takdirde mean, and how is it formed?
aksi takdirde is a fixed formal phrase meaning otherwise or in that case. It literally combines aksi (opposite) + takdir (consideration) + locative suffix -de (in) to form in the case of the opposite.
Why is proje zarar görür in the simple present tense instead of a future tense like zarar görecek?
Turkish simple present can express general truths or inevitable consequences, not just habitual actions. Here proje zarar görür conveys the project suffers damage if we don’t comply. You could say proje zarar görecek, meaning the project will suffer damage, but that implies a more specific future event rather than a general rule.
What is the difference between zarar görmek and zarar vermek?
zarar görmek means to suffer damage (the subject is harmed), whereas zarar vermek means to inflict harm (the subject harms something else).
Why don’t we see the or a before regülasyon and proje in Turkish?
Turkish does not have articles like the or a. Definiteness is usually inferred from context, or can be marked with demonstratives such as bu (this) or şu (that).
Are there alternative ways to say otherwise in Turkish?
Yes. Besides aksi takdirde, you can use aksi halde (more neutral) or yoksa (more colloquial) to mean otherwise.
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