Breakdown of Tansiyon tekrar yükselirse, babam doktoru arayacak.
benim
my
tekrar
again
baba
the father
yükselmek
to rise
doktor
the doctor
aramak
to call
-se
if
tansiyon
the blood pressure
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Questions & Answers about Tansiyon tekrar yükselirse, babam doktoru arayacak.
How is the idea of if expressed in Turkish in yükselirse?
Turkish uses the conditional suffix -se/-sa on the verb to mean if. Here we have the aorist + conditional:
- yüksel-ir-se = rise-AOR-COND = if it rises.
So the if-clause is built right into the verb form; no separate word is required.
Why is there an -ir in yükselirse?
That -ir is the aorist marker. The most common open conditional uses the aorist + conditional:
- gel-ir-se (if he comes)
- okur-sa (if he reads)
- yüksel-ir-se (if it rises)
Some verbs show the aorist as -r (e.g., okur), others as -ir/ür depending on vowel harmony.
Can I add eğer for if?
Yes. Eğer is optional and adds emphasis or clarity:
- Eğer tansiyon tekrar yükselirse, babam doktoru arayacak.
- Tansiyon tekrar yükselirse, babam doktoru arayacak. Both are natural.
Why is it doktoru and not doktor?
Because doktoru is the definite direct object with the accusative ending -ı/i/u/ü. It means the doctor (a specific one). Without the accusative (just doktor), the object is indefinite and could be understood as a generic doctor, and with aramak it often reads as look for a doctor rather than phone a specific doctor.
Does doktoru mean the doctor or his doctor?
In this sentence, doktoru is the definite object the doctor. To say his (own) doctor as an object, you’d add possessive + accusative:
- babam doktorunu arayacak = my father will call his doctor. For extra clarity about ownership: babam kendi doktorunu arayacak.
What does arayacak express, and how is it formed?
It’s 3rd person singular future: will call. Formation:
- ara-y-acak = call-BUFFER-FUT. If the stem ends in a vowel (here ara-), you insert buffer -y- before -acak/‑ecek. Negative: aramayacak. Question: arayacak mı? First person: arayacağım.
Why future (arayacak) and not aorist (arar) in the main clause?
- … arayacak points to a specific future event/decision: if it rises (this time), he will call.
- … arar is habitual/general: if it rises (whenever it does), he (usually) calls. Both are grammatical; the choice depends on meaning.
Where does tekrar go, and does its position change the meaning?
Yes, placement changes what again modifies:
- Tansiyon tekrar yükselirse, babam doktoru arayacak. = if the blood pressure rises again.
- Tansiyon yükselirse, babam doktoru tekrar arayacak. = he will call the doctor again.
- Tekrar tansiyon yükselirse, … also works, with focus on again.
What’s the difference among tekrar, yine/gene, and yeniden?
All can mean again.
- tekrar: neutral, also a noun meaning repetition; slightly formal/neutral as an adverb.
- yine/gene: everyday again; gene is more colloquial.
- yeniden: again/anew (often starting over). All three work here; tekrar and yine/gene are most common.
Is the comma after the if-clause required?
It’s conventional but not mandatory. With the conditional clause first, a comma is commonly used:
- Tansiyon tekrar yükselirse, babam… Without the comma is also accepted in plain prose. If the main clause comes first, you typically don’t insert a comma:
- Babam doktoru arayacak tansiyon tekrar yükselirse. (stylistically less preferred than putting the if-clause first)
Why is there no subject pronoun for he?
Turkish is pro-drop. The subject is clear from babam (my father) and the verb ending, so o (he) is omitted unless you need emphasis or contrast.
Should it be Babamın tansiyonu to say his blood pressure?
To be explicit, yes:
- Babamın tansiyonu tekrar yükselirse, babam doktoru arayacak. In context, Turkish often omits the possessive if it’s obvious whose blood pressure is being discussed, so the original sentence is still natural in conversation.
Is yükselmek the only verb that works for blood pressure?
You’ll also hear:
- artmak (to increase): Tansiyon tekrar artarsa…
- yükselmek (to rise) is very common. Be careful with yükseltmek (to raise), which is transitive: it means to raise something.
Why is the ending -u in doktoru and not another vowel?
Accusative -(y)ı/‑i/‑u/‑ü follows vowel harmony based on the last vowel of the noun:
- doktOr → back rounded → -u → doktoru. Examples: kitabı, evi, okulu, günü.
Are there other natural ways to say call the doctor?
Yes:
- doktoru arayacak (accusative + aramak) — most common.
- doktora telefon edecek (dative + telefon etmek). Both are idiomatic; choose based on your preferred verb.