Learn Hardcore Turkish: Masa örtüsü beyaz olursa oda daha aydınlık görünüyor. - If the tablecloth is white, the room looks brighter.

ol- is the very common verb “to be/become/happen.”
olur is its aorist (general present) third person singular: “it is/it becomes.”
Adding the conditional -sa/-se gives olursa: “if it is / if it becomes.” So beyaz olursa means “if it is (or becomes) white.”

Can I say beyazsa instead of beyaz olursa?

Yes. beyazsa literally means “if (it is) white” and is perfectly natural. Nuance:

beyazsa = straightforward “if it’s white.”
beyaz olursa = similar meaning, sometimes feels a bit more event-like (“if it happens to be/becomes white”).
Both are fine here. A slightly more formal version is beyaz ise (often written together as beyazsa in speech).

Should there be a comma after the “if” clause?

It’s conventional to use one: Masa örtüsü beyaz olursa, oda daha aydınlık görünüyor.
The sentence is still understandable without it, but the comma is recommended.

Why is it görünüyor and not görünür?

Both are possible, with a nuance:

görünüyor (present progressive) can present this as a current/repeated observation: “it looks brighter (in these situations).”
görünür (aorist) sounds more like a general rule/habit: “it looks brighter (in general).” If you’re stating a general tendency, many prefer: Masa örtüsü beyaz olursa, oda daha aydınlık görünür.

Why is it oda and not odada or odası?

oda is the subject (“the room”) in the nominative case.
odada means “in the room,” which would shift the meaning (e.g., “it looks brighter in the room” — but then what is “it”?).
odası means “its room/the room of (something),” which is not intended.
Here we need “The room looks brighter,” so oda is correct.

What kind of construction is masa örtüsü, and why not masanın örtüsü?

masa örtüsü is an indefinite noun–noun compound meaning the generic item “tablecloth.” Structure: [Noun] + [Noun + 3sg possessive], e.g., masa
- örtü-sü.
masanın örtüsü means “the table’s cloth” (the cloth that belongs to a particular table).
When you mean the object type “tablecloth,” use masa örtüsü.

Could I say Masadaki örtü beyaz olursa instead?

Yes, but it changes the focus slightly:

Masadaki örtü = “the cloth on the table.” This points to a specific cloth currently on the table.
Masa örtüsü = “tablecloth” as an item type, more generic.
Use the one that matches your intended focus.

How does daha work here?

daha means “more” and creates the comparative. It goes right before the adjective/adverb:

daha aydınlık = “brighter.” You don’t have to state what it’s compared to; it can be understood from context (“brighter than otherwise”). Variations:
çok daha aydınlık = “much brighter”
daha da aydınlık = “even brighter”
en aydınlık = “the brightest/most well-lit”

Is aydınlık the same as parlak or ferah?

Not exactly:

aydınlık = well-lit/bright in terms of light in a space (a room that has plenty of light).
parlak = shiny/bright (reflective/glossy surfaces, dazzling light).
ferah = spacious/airy/refreshing (a feeling of openness).
For a room that looks brighter because of a white tablecloth, aydınlık is the best choice.

Why use ol- at all? Could I say something like beyazdırsa?

Use either:

beyazsa (common and natural), or
beyaz olursa (equally fine). Forms like beyazdırsa (with the assertive copula -dır) are rare/marked and usually unnecessary here. Stick to beyazsa or beyaz olursa.

Can I use olunca or olduğunda instead of olursa?

Yes, with a nuance:

olunca / olduğunda = “when/whenever it is” (temporal, more certain or habitual).
olursa = “if it is/becomes” (conditional, hypothetical or open-ended).
For habitual statements, Masa örtüsü beyaz olunca/olduğunda, oda daha aydınlık görünür is very natural.

Do I need gibi with görünmek (e.g., daha aydınlık gibi görünüyor)?

Not required. görünmek can take a predicate directly:

daha aydınlık görünüyor = “it looks brighter.” Adding gibi makes it feel more tentative: “it seems as if it’s brighter.” Use it if you want to hedge.

Can I put the clauses in the opposite order?

Yes:

Oda daha aydınlık görünüyor, masa örtüsü beyaz olursa.
The “if” clause typically comes first, but putting it second is acceptable in speech/writing. With -sa/-se attached to a word in the second clause, listeners still know it’s the condition.

How is görünüyor formed?

Root: gör (see)
Passive/reflexive: görün- (“to be seen; to appear, seem”)
Present continuous: -iyor (harmonizes here as -üyor) Result: görün-üyor → görünüyor = “(it) is appearing/looks.”
Third person is unmarked; the subject (oda) tells us it’s “it.”

How would I say “A white tablecloth makes the room look brighter”?

Two natural options:

Beyaz bir masa örtüsü, odayı daha aydınlık gösteriyor/gösterir. (makes the room appear brighter)
Beyaz bir masa örtüsü, odayı daha aydınlık yapıyor/yapar. (makes the room brighter)
Use -r (aorist) for general facts, -yor for current/repeated observation.