Ben bulaşık deterjanı alıyorum.

I am buying dishwashing detergent.

Breakdown of Ben bulaşık deterjanı alıyorum.

• ben: I
• almak: to buy
• bulaşık deterjanı: the dishwashing detergent

Questions & Answers about Ben bulaşık deterjanı alıyorum.

Do I need to include the pronoun Ben, or can I just say Bulaşık deterjanı alıyorum?

You can drop Ben. The verb ending in alıyorum already shows the subject is “I.” Using Ben adds emphasis or contrast (I, as opposed to someone else).

Does alıyorum mean “I’m buying,” “I’m taking,” or “I’m getting”?

All are possible; almak is broad (“to take/receive/get/buy”). In a shopping context like this, it naturally reads as “I’m buying.” Context disambiguates.

Why does bulaşık deterjanı end with -ı? Is that the accusative?

No. In Turkish noun–noun compounds, the second noun takes a 3rd‑person possessive suffix: bulaşık deterjanı = “dish detergent” (literally “dishes’ detergent”). That -ı here is possessive, not accusative. Compare: elma suyu (“apple juice”).

Shouldn’t a direct object take the accusative -(y)ı?

Only if it’s definite/specific. Here it’s indefinite (“some dish detergent”), so no accusative. Definite object: bulaşık deterjanını alıyorum = “I’m buying the dish detergent (the one we know about).”

So how do I say “I’m buying the dish detergent we talked about”?

Use the definite form: Bulaşık deterjanını alıyorum. Note the extra -n- buffer before the accusative: deterjanı (compound) → deterjanını (compound + accusative).

What’s the difference between alıyorum, alırım, and alacağım?

• alıyorum: present continuous (“I’m buying [now/around now]”; also near-future plan).
• alırım: aorist/habitual (“I (usually) buy,” “I would buy”).
• alacağım: future (“I will buy / I’m going to buy”).

How is alıyorum formed, and why is it -um (not -ım)?

Root al- + progressive -(I)yor → alıyor, then 1sg -um → alıyorum. After -yor, the personal ending is rounded, so it’s always -um (not -ım).

How do I make it negative?

Almıyorum. Structure: al- + -ma- + -yor + -um → almıyorum (the vowel before -yor raises to ı/i/u/ü, hence mı here).

Do I need bir to mean “a/some” dish detergent?

No. Turkish usually omits an article for indefinite objects: Bulaşık deterjanı alıyorum ≈ “I’m buying some dish detergent.” Use a measure word for clarity: bir şişe/bir kutu bulaşık deterjanı (“a bottle/box of dish detergent”).

What if I mean dishwasher detergent (for the machine), not hand dish soap?

Say bulaşık makinesi deterjanı or colloquially makine deterjanı / makine tableti. Plain bulaşık deterjanı often implies hand dishwashing liquid.

Can I use the plural, like bulaşık deterjanları alıyorum?

You can, but it usually implies various kinds (“I’m buying dish detergents”). More natural is to quantify: iki tane/iki şişe bulaşık deterjanı alıyorum. Definite plural takes accusative: bulaşık deterjanlarını alıyorum (“I’m buying the detergents [we mentioned]”).

Is the word order fixed? Could I move things around?

Default is SOV: Ben bulaşık deterjanı alıyorum. You can reorder for emphasis:

• Bulaşık deterjanını ben alıyorum (contrastive “I’m the one buying the detergent”).
• Ben alıyorum bulaşık deterjanını (colloquial, focusing the verb/subject).

How do I pronounce the ı’s and the j?

Turkish ı (dotless) is a high back unrounded vowel (like the second vowel in “roses” for many speakers). The j in deterjan sounds like the s in “measure.” So roughly: bu‑LA‑şık de‑ter‑JA‑nɯ a‑LU‑yo‑rum.

Why not bulaşığın deterjanı?

That genitive‑possessive form would mean “the detergent of the (specific) dirty dishes,” which is odd. For general “dish detergent,” use the compound pattern: bulaşık deterjanı.