Defter eski, yenisini istiyorum.

to be

Breakdown of Defter eski, yenisini istiyorum.

• istemek: to want
• eski: old
• defter: the notebook

Questions & Answers about Defter eski, yenisini istiyorum.

What does yenisini literally mean, and how is it formed?

It’s a compact way to say the new one (of it). Morphology:

• yeni = new
• -si = 3rd‑person possessive used here to turn the adjective into a noun-like word: yenisi = the new one
• -n(i) = accusative case (with buffer n after a possessive): yenisini = the new one (as a specific direct object)

The -si doesn’t indicate real ownership; it’s a common way to substantivize adjectives in Turkish.

Why is yenisini in the accusative case?

Because istemek (to want) takes the accusative when the object is specific/definite. Yenisini istiyorum means I want the new one (a specific thing understood from context). If you mean an indefinite item, you’d say yeni bir defter istiyorum (I want a new notebook), which has no accusative on the object.

Can I just say yeni istiyorum?

Not by itself. Yeni is an adjective; you either:

• name the noun: yeni bir defter istiyorum (I want a new notebook), or
• turn the adjective into a noun-like form: yenisini istiyorum (I want the new one), or
• use a generic one: yeni bir tane istiyorum (I want a new one), or
• say it more explicitly: yeni olanını istiyorum (I want the one that is new).