Learn Hardcore Turkish: Ben saçımı tarakla tarıyorum, sonra saç tokasını takıyorum. - I comb my hair with a comb, then I put on a hair clip.

You can drop it. The verb ending -um in tarıyorum/takıyorum already shows the subject is “I.” Use Ben only for emphasis or contrast (e.g., “As for me…”).

Why is it saçımı and not saçım?

Because it’s a definite direct object. In Turkish, definite objects take the accusative suffix. Form: saç-ım-ı = hair + my + ACC. Without the accusative, it would sound like “I’m combing hair (in general),” not “my hair.”

Can I say saçlarımı instead of saçımı?

Yes. Both are common:

Saçımı tarıyorum treats “hair” as a mass.
Saçlarımı tarıyorum highlights “strands/hairs,” but in everyday speech it just means the same thing. Both are natural.

What does tarakla mean exactly? Is -la the same as ile?

-la/-le is the instrumental suffix meaning “with/using.” Tarakla = “with a comb.” It’s equivalent to the separate word ile: tarak ile → tarakla in normal speech/writing.

Why doesn’t tarak change to tarağı in tarakla?

The final k in words like tarak becomes ğ only before a vowel-initial suffix. Since -la starts with a consonant, there’s no change:

tarak + ı (ACC) → tarağı
tarak + ım (my) → tarağım
tarak + la (with) → tarakla

Isn’t tarakla tarıyorum redundant (like “I comb with a comb”)?

It’s fine. Taramak just means “to comb”; adding tarakla states the instrument explicitly (not with fingers or a brush). You could also omit it: Saçımı tarıyorum is complete.

How are tarıyorum and takıyorum formed?

Present continuous uses -yor with vowel harmony, and the preceding vowel often raises (a→ı, e→i, o→u, ö→ü):

tara-mak → tarı-yor-um = tarıyorum
tak-mak → tak-ı-yor-um = takıyorum

If I mean a routine (every day), should I still use -yor?

Use the aorist for habits/routines:

Saçımı tararım, sonra saç tokasını takarım. The -yor form describes what you’re doing now or around now.

What does sonra do here? Could I use ondan sonra or daha sonra?

Sonra means “then/afterwards.” You can also say ondan sonra (“after that”) or daha sonra (“later on”). Punctuation like “..., sonra ...” is very common when linking clauses.

What exactly is saç tokasını?

It’s a compound plus the accusative:

saç toka-sı = hair + clip + 3rd person possessive (the standard compound marker) → “hair clip”
saç tokası-nı adds the accusative (definite object) → “the hair clip” If you mean an unspecified one: Bir saç tokası takıyorum (“I’m putting on a hair clip”).

Why is there an n in tokası-nı? When do I use buffer n vs buffer y?

After the 3rd-person possessive -sı/-si/-su/-sü, you insert buffer n before a vowel-initial suffix:

tokası + ı (ACC) → tokasını If a noun simply ends in a vowel (no possessive), you use buffer y:
toka + ı (ACC) → tokayı

Could I just say tokayı takıyorum? What about saç tokamı takıyorum?

Tokayı takıyorum = “I’m putting on the (hair) clip.” It’s fine; context tells you it’s for hair.
Saç tokamı takıyorum = “I’m putting on my hair clip.” Here you mark 1st-person possession: saç toka-m-ı.

Why takıyorum and not giyiyorum?

Turkish distinguishes verbs:

takmak: to put on/wear accessories you attach (hair clip, earrings, bracelet, glasses, watch, ring, belt).
giymek: to wear/put on clothes you put your body into (shirt, coat, pants, shoes). So you say toka takmak.

How flexible is the word order? Can I move sonra or tarakla?

Turkish is flexible, but the verb usually stays at the end of each clause.

Sonra saç tokasını takıyorum (starting with “then”) is fine.
Saçımı tarakla tarıyorum is natural; keeping tarakla near the verb/object sounds best. ... tarıyorum, tarakla is possible but less natural in everyday speech.

If I want to specify whose comb, how do I say “with my/that comb”?

“with my comb”: tarağımla = tarak + ım (my) → tarağım; + la → tarağımla
“with that comb”: o tarakla
“with his/her/the comb (contextual)”: tarağıyla (3rd-person possessive + with)