Questions & Answers about Ben bardağı suyla doldurabilmek için musluğu açıyorum.
Do I have to say Ben? Isn’t the subject already clear from açıyorum?
No, you don’t have to. The ending -um in açıyorum already marks first-person singular, so Ben is optional. You include Ben for emphasis or contrast (e.g., “I’m the one opening it”).
Why is it bardağı with the accusative -ı?
Because the glass is a definite, specific direct object (“the glass”). In Turkish, definite/specific direct objects take the accusative:
- Definite: Bardağı dolduruyorum.
- Indefinite: Bir bardak dolduruyorum. (no accusative)
Why is musluğu also in the accusative?
It’s the direct object of the main verb açmak (“to open”), and it’s specific (“the tap/faucet”). If you meant an unspecified one, you’d say Bir musluk açıyorum.
What exactly does suyla mean and how is it formed? Can I say su ile?
Suyla = su (water) + buffer y + instrumental/comitative suffix -la (“with/by means of”). It literally means “with water.”
Yes, su ile is the spaced form and is a bit more formal. In speech, ile commonly fuses to -la/-le. The buffer y appears because the word ends in a vowel.