Breakdown of Kol saatini takmayı unutma; randevu saatini kaçırma.
unutmak
to forget
takmak
to wear
kaçırmak
to miss
kol saati
the wristwatch
randevu saati
the appointment time
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Questions & Answers about Kol saatini takmayı unutma; randevu saatini kaçırma.
Why is it takmayı, not takmak, after unutma?
In Turkish, “to forget to do X” is expressed with a verbal noun: V-mAyI unutmak. So you nominalize the verb with -mA and then add the accusative -(y)I because it’s the object of unutmak.
- takmayı = tak- (to put on/wear an accessory) + -ma (verbal noun) + -yı (accusative) Pattern: X yapmayı unutma = “don’t forget to do X.”
What is the function of the -y- in takmayı?
It’s a buffer consonant used before a vowel-initial suffix. Here, takma ends in a vowel and we’re adding the accusative -(I), so we insert -y-: takma-y-ı → takmayı. This keeps vowels from clashing.
Why does kol saatini end with -ni?
Because it’s in the accusative case (definite direct object). Internally:
- kol saati is a compound meaning “wristwatch” (literally “arm watch”; the head noun has a 3rd-person possessive marker).
- Add accusative -(I) to a possessed form → you get a buffer -n-: kol saat-i + -ni → kol saatini. So kol saatini = “the wristwatch” (as a specific object).
Does kol saatini mean “your wristwatch” here?
It can be read that way in context. Formally, kol saatini is ambiguous between:
- “the wristwatch” (compound with 3rd-person possessive + accusative), and
- “your wristwatch” (kol saatin = your wristwatch + accusative -i → kol saatini). In a 2nd-person imperative like this, listeners usually understand it as “your watch.” To make it explicit, you can say:
- Senin kol saatini takmayı unutma.
- Or simply: Saatini takmayı unutma.
- For emphasis: Kendi saatini takmayı unutma.
Why takmak and not giymek for a watch?
Turkish uses different verbs for “wear”:
- takmak for accessories: saat (watch), yüzük (ring), küpe (earring), kolye (necklace), gözlük (glasses), şapka (hat).
- giymek for clothing: gömlek, elbise, ceket, ayakkabı. So a watch is worn with takmak, not giymek.
What exactly does randevu saatini mean? Why not randevuyu?
- randevu saati = “appointment time” (the time of the appointment).
- randevuyu (accusative of randevu) = “the appointment.” Both work with kaçırmak (to miss):
- Randevu saatini kaçırma focuses on missing the time.
- Randevuyu kaçırma is the more common way to say “don’t miss your appointment.” Another common alternative is: Randevuya geç kalma (“don’t be late for the appointment”).
How are unutma and kaçırma formed?
They are negative imperatives (2nd person singular):
- Stem + -ma/-me (chosen by vowel harmony): unut-ma, kaçır-ma. Affirmative imperatives would be unut (“forget!”) and kaçır (“miss!”), which you don’t want here. For plural/polite: add -ın/-in → unutmayın; kaçırmayın. You can add Lütfen for politeness.
Is the word order fixed? Could I say Unutma, kol saatini takmayı?
Turkish is generally SOV, so the complement typically precedes the main verb: kol saatini takmayı unutma is the neutral order. In speech, you can front unutma for emphasis and then pause: Unutma, kol saatini takmayı, which is acceptable and natural with the comma intonation.
Why is there a semicolon in the sentence?
As in English, a semicolon links two closely related independent clauses. Here, it ties two related commands. You could also use a period or a dash. Using ve (“and”) is possible but less punchy for two prohibitions.
Which words are direct objects of which verbs?
- In the first clause, takmayı (a nominalized verb) is the direct object of unutma; within that nominalized clause, kol saatini is the direct object of takmak.
- In the second clause, randevu saatini is the direct object of kaçırma.
What vowel harmony is at play in the suffixes?
- Verbal noun: tak- → takma (back vowel → -ma).
- Accusative of the verbal noun: takma + -(I) → last vowel is back, so -ı, with buffer: takmayı.
- Negative imperatives: unut-, kaçır- both take back -ma → unutma, kaçırma.
- For possessed nouns, adding a case suffix uses a buffer -n-: saat-i + -ni → saatini.
Why does saat appear twice with different meanings?
Turkish saat is polysemous:
- “watch/clock” (physical object): kol saati = wristwatch.
- “hour/time (of day)” (temporal): randevu saati = appointment time. Context disambiguates the two senses here.
Can I drop kol and just say Saatini takmayı unutma?
Yes. Saat alone commonly means “(wrist)watch” in everyday speech. Saatini takmayı unutma is concise and natural.
How can I make the warning stronger or more polite?
- Stronger: add sakın before the negative imperative: Sakın kol saatini takmayı unutma; sakın randevu saatini kaçırma.
- Polite/plural: Lütfen saatini takmayı unutmayın; randevu saatini kaçırmayın.