Learn Hardcore Turkish: Bugün sadece kahve değil, aynı zamanda taze meyve de aldım. - Today I bought not only coffee but also fresh fruit.

sadece kahve değil = not only coffee
aynı zamanda taze meyve de = but also fresh fruit (the de marks “also/too”) You can drop aynı zamanda and still be fine: Bugün sadece kahve değil, taze meyve de aldım.

Why is değil used here instead of a negative verb like almadım?

Değil is the negative copula used to negate nouns/adjectives/phrases (here, it negates the phrase sadece kahve = “only coffee”). The idea is “It’s not only coffee [that I bought], but also fruit.” If you said Bugün kahve almadım, taze meyve aldım, it would mean “I didn’t buy coffee; I bought fruit,” which is a different meaning.

What does the de after meyve do, and where does it go?

That de is the enclitic meaning “also/too.” It is written as a separate word and follows the word it focuses: taze meyve de = “fresh fruit as well.” You could instead put de after a different element to shift the focus (e.g., Bugün de sadece kahve değil, … = “Today, too, not only coffee, …”).

How do I choose between de and da? And why not te/ta?

For the enclitic “also,” use de/da by vowel harmony:
- After front vowels (e, i, ö, ü): de
- After back vowels (a, ı, o, u): da
It’s always written separately and always with d (never te/ta).
-de/-da/-te/-ta with t is the locative suffix “in/at/on” and is attached to the word: evde (at home), kitapta (in the book). Compare:
- kitapta = in the book (suffix, attached)
- kitap da = the book too (enclitic, separate)

Why is there no accusative suffix on kahve or taze meyve?

In Turkish, a direct object is normally unmarked (no -i) when it’s indefinite/non-specific. Here we mean “some coffee/fresh fruit,” so no accusative:

kahveyi / taze meyveyi would mark specificity: “the coffee / the fresh fruit.”
Using the accusative here would suggest known/specific items and can accidentally change the meaning or sound odd in this pattern.

Could I say this with hem … hem (de) …?

Yes. A natural alternative is: Bugün hem kahve hem de taze meyve aldım. This is a straightforward affirmative coordination (“both … and …”) without the negation (değil). It’s often the simplest way to say you got both things.

Is de after meyve necessary if I already have aynı zamanda?

Not strictly. Aynı zamanda already conveys “also/at the same time,” so you can say Bugün sadece kahve değil, aynı zamanda taze meyve aldım. Adding de is very common and puts a tidy “also” right on the focused element (taze meyve), making the emphasis a bit clearer.

What’s the breakdown of aldım?

Root: al- (to take/buy)
Past tense: -dı/-di/-du/-dü (vowel harmony) → here: -dı → after back vowel a, picks ı
1st person singular: -m So: al-dı-m → aldım = “I bought.” Note the d/t alternation: after voiceless consonants it’s -tı/-ti/-tu/-tü, but after al- (ending in voiced l) you keep -dı.

Does almak really mean “to buy”? I thought it was “to take.”

It’s both; context decides. In shopping contexts, almak commonly means “to buy.” If you want to be crystal clear, you can say satın almak (“to purchase”): Bugün … taze meyve de satın aldım.

Can I move words around? Where else can I put Bugün?

Yes. Turkish word order is flexible for emphasis, with the finite verb typically last. Some natural variants:

Bugün sadece kahve değil, taze meyve de aldım.
Sadece kahve değil, bugün taze meyve de aldım. (emphasizes “today”)
Sadece kahve değil, taze meyve de bugün aldım. (heavier focus on “today”) Keep the verb near the end for naturalness.

How is değil pronounced? What does ğ do here?

In değil, the ğ (yumuşak g) doesn’t make a hard g sound; it lengthens or glides the preceding vowel. You’ll often hear something like “deeil” or “deyil.” So değil ≈ “de-eel,” not “degil.”

What does aynı zamanda literally mean, and does it always mean “also”?

Literally, aynı zamanda = “at the same time” (aynı = same, zaman = time, -da = in/at). In discourse it often functions like “also/moreover,” as in the sentence. In strictly temporal contexts, it can mean “at the same time.” Context tells which reading is intended.

Why is there a comma before aynı zamanda?

It mirrors the pause you’d make after “not only X” and helps readability. You’ll frequently see a comma separating the … değil, … parts in writing, especially in longer sentences.

Could I say Bugün kahveyi değil, taze meyveyi de aldım?

That changes the meaning. Kahveyi değil … aldım means “Not the coffee, … I bought …,” i.e., you’re negating buying that specific coffee. Our sentence wants “not only coffee (but also fruit),” so you negate sadece kahve with değil, not the object itself with accusative.

Can I just drop aynı zamanda and use only de?

Yes, and it’s very natural: Bugün sadece kahve değil, taze meyve de aldım. This is probably the most concise everyday version of the structure.

Is plural meyveler okay here?

As an indefinite direct object, Turkish typically uses the bare singular form even if English would say “fruits.” Meyveler is possible but usually signals variety or emphasis on plurality/kinds. The neutral choice here is taze meyve.