Learn Hardcore Turkish: Telefona bir bildirim geldi, ama ekran kilidi yüzünden açamadım. - A notification came to the phone, but I couldn’t open it because of the screen lock.

The verb gelmek (to come) uses the dative case for destination: Telefona bir bildirim geldi = A notification came to the phone.
Telefonda (locative) means on/at the phone: Telefonda bir sorun var = There’s a problem on the phone.
Telefonu (accusative) marks a direct object: Telefonu açtım = I turned the phone on.

Can I say telefonuma instead of telefona?

Yes. Telefonuma bir bildirim geldi = A notification came to my phone.
Telefona is generic, but in context it usually still means “to my phone.” Telefonuma explicitly marks possession and can sound a bit more personal/specific.

Do I need bir before bildirim? What changes if I drop it?

Both Telefona bir bildirim geldi and Telefona bildirim geldi are fine.
Bir highlights a single, new, indefinitive item (a notification, one popped up). Without bir, it’s still indefinite, just a bit more neutral/presentational.

Why is the subject placed after telefona? Could I put it first?

Turkish often starts with time/place/topic, then the subject, then the verb: Telefona [topic] bir bildirim [subject] geldi [verb].
Alternatives:
- Bir bildirim telefona geldi (focuses on a notification as the thing that came).
- Telefona bildirim geldi (drops bir, still natural).

Shouldn’t bildirim be accusative (bildirimi) since it’s “received”? Why is it nominative?

With gelmek, the notification is the subject: bir bildirim geldi (no accusative).
If you use a transitive verb like almak (to receive), then it can be an object: Bir bildirim aldım (indefinite object, no -i) vs. Bildirimi aldım (I received the notification, specific).

In ekran kilidi, why does kilidi end with -i? Is that the accusative?

No, that -i is the 3rd person possessive: ekran kilid-i = the screen’s lock (indefinite compound).
It’s an indefinite noun–noun compound: ekran (screen) + kilit (lock) + -i (its).
Definite version would be ekranın kilidi = the lock of the screen (specific screen).

Does yüzünden require the genitive? Should it be ekran kilidinin yüzünden?

With nouns, both are seen; everyday speech often drops the genitive: ekran kilidi yüzünden (very common).
With pronouns, genitive is required: benim/senin/onun yüzünden.
Ekran kilidinin yüzünden is grammatical but heavier; most people say ekran kilidi yüzünden.

Is yüzünden negative? What are alternatives?

Yüzünden often carries a negative/blaming nuance: because of (and that caused trouble).
Neutral/formal: -den dolayı, -den ötürü, nedeniyle
.
Positive: sayesinde (thanks to).
Example: Ekran kilidi yüzünden açamadım (negative cause) vs Yeni güncelleme sayesinde hızlandım (positive cause).

How is açamadım formed, and how is it different from açmadım?

aç-a-ma-dı-m: root aç-
- inability -A-ma-
  - past -dı
    - 1sg -m = I couldn’t open (I was unable).
açmadım = I did not open (no attempt/ability implied).
Positive ability: açabildim = I managed to open it. Present inability: açamıyorum.
Don’t say açabilmedim; the correct form is açamadım.

What is the implied object of açamadım here?

It’s contextually understood. It could mean:
- I couldn’t unlock/open the phone: telefonu açamadım (or more precise, its lock).
- I couldn’t open the notification: bildirimi açamadım.
- I couldn’t unlock the screen: ekran kilidini açamadım.

How do I say unlock naturally in Turkish?

Most natural: kilidini açmak (to open its lock), e.g., Telefonun/ekranın kilidini açtım.
UI terms: ekran kilidi (screen lock), kilit ekranı (lock screen).
Note: Telefonu açmak usually means power on; ekranı açmak is to wake/turn on the screen.

Is the comma before ama required? Could I start a sentence with Ama? What about fakat/ancak?

With two independent clauses, a comma before ama is standard: ..., ama ....
Starting a new sentence with Ama is also common in speech/writing: Ama ekran kilidi yüzünden açamadım.
Synonyms: fakat, ancak (a bit more formal; ancak also means only/however).

What’s the difference between geldi and gelmiş in this sentence?

geldi: simple past, speaker presents it as known/witnessed fact.
gelmiş: inferential/hearsay; the speaker learned or inferred it later: Telefona bir bildirim gelmiş, ama... (apparently a notification came, but...).

Why is there no ben? Is Ben açamadım wrong?

Turkish is pro-drop; açamadım already marks 1st person singular.
Ben açamadım is correct but adds emphasis/contrast: I couldn’t (as opposed to someone else).

I’ve heard bildirim düştü. Is Telefona bir bildirim düştü natural?

Yes, colloquial: Telefona bir bildirim düştü ≈ A notification popped up/landed on the phone.
düşmek here is idiomatic and common in everyday tech talk.

Can I use için instead of yüzünden?

Not directly with a noun here. Ekran kilidi için açamadım is unnatural.
Use a clause with için: Ekran kilidi olduğu için açamadım = Because there was a screen lock, I couldn’t open it.
Or keep the postposition: Ekran kilidi yüzünden açamadım.

Any pronunciation or spelling gotchas in this sentence?

kilit → kilidi: t becomes d before a vowel in many nouns (consonant alternation).
Vowel harmony: telefona (-a) and açamadım (-a-) match the back vowel harmony.
Stress is typically on the last syllable of words like bildirim and kilidi; suffixes are unstressed.