Şekerlik boşalmış, şekerliği doldurabilir misin?

the sugar bowl

Breakdown of Şekerlik boşalmış, şekerliği doldurabilir misin?

• boşalmak: to empty (become empty)
• doldurabilmek: to be able to fill

Questions & Answers about Şekerlik boşalmış, şekerliği doldurabilir misin?

What exactly does şekerlik mean, and how is it formed?

It means a sugar bowl (the container you keep sugar in on the table). It’s built from şeker (sugar) + the derivational suffix -lik, which often forms containers or holders (compare tuzluk “salt shaker,” peçetelik “napkin holder”). Note: şekerli (with the suffix -li) means “with sugar/sugary,” not “sugar bowl.”

Why is it şekerliği in the second clause? What’s that -i?

That’s the definite accusative marking the direct object: you’re referring to “the sugar bowl,” a specific item. So şekerlik (base) + accusative -i → şekerliği. Because şekerlik ends in k, it softens to ğ before a vowel-initial suffix: şekerlik + -i → şekerliği. The vowel in -i is chosen by 4-way vowel harmony; the last vowel of şekerlik is i, so you use -i. (No apostrophe is used; apostrophes are only for proper names.)

Why not say şekeri instead?

Şekeri would mean “the sugar” (the substance). In Turkish you normally “fill the container,” so you say şekerliği doldurmak. If you want to say what you fill it with, use the instrumental: Şekerliği şekerle doldurur musun? (“with sugar”).

What nuance does -miş add in boşalmış?