Learn Hardcore Turkish: Projeksiyon donarsa, uzatma kablosunu kontrol et. - If the projector freezes, check the extension cord.

It marks a conditional (if). Morphology: don- (to freeze) + -ar (aorist/general present) + -sa (if) → don-ar-sa. Vowel harmony picks -sa (not -se) after the back vowel o. Person can change: donarsam (if I freeze), donarsan (if you freeze), donarlarsa (if they freeze), etc.

Why is uzatma kablosunu in the accusative, and what is the extra -n- doing?

It’s a definite direct object, so it takes the accusative -(y)I. Internally it’s a compound with a 3rd-person possessive, and that possessive requires a buffer -n- before case endings: uzat- (extend) + -ma (nominalizer) + kablo (cable) + -su (3sg possessive for the compound) + -nu (accusative) → uzatma kablosunu. The final vowel is u by harmony (last vowel of the stem is o).

What exactly is uzatma kablosu structurally?

It’s a noun–noun compound meaning extension cable. Breakdown: uzat- (extend) + -ma → uzatma (extension) + kablo (cable) + -su (compound/possessive marker) → uzatma kablosu. When you make it the specific object of a verb, you add the accusative: uzatma kablosunu.

Why is kontrol et written as two words?

Many verbs in Turkish are formed with the light verb etmek plus a noun or adjective, and they are typically written separately: kontrol etmek (to check). In the imperative singular, you use et: kontrol et. Some combinations fossilize into one word (e.g., kaydetmek, zannetmek), but kontrol etmek stays separate.

How do I make this more polite or formal than kontrol et?

Polite/plural imperative: kontrol edin.
Polite request: kontrol eder misiniz? or kontrol edebilir misiniz?
You can add lütfen for extra politeness: Lütfen kontrol edin.

Can the object go after the verb (word order flexibility)?

Default order is object–verb: uzatma kablosunu kontrol et. You can place the object after the verb for emphasis or certain discourse effects: kontrol et uzatma kablosunu, but the neutral, most natural order keeps the object before the verb.

Do I need eğer in the if-clause?

No. The conditional suffix -sa/-se already means if, so donarsa is complete by itself. Using eğer is optional and can add emphasis: Eğer projeksiyon donarsa, …. Avoid doubling a verb form like donarsa ise (that’s ungrammatical).

Why use the aorist-based conditional (donarsa) and not another tense like donuyorsa?

donarsa (aorist + conditional) is a general/hypothetical if.
donuyorsa (progressive + conditional) means if it is freezing (right now).
Other options: donduysa (if it has frozen), donmuşsa (if it’s frozen/already in a frozen state). You pick the form that matches the time/frame you mean.

What about punctuation—why the comma after the conditional clause?

When the conditional clause comes first, a comma before the main clause is standard: … donarsa, …. If the main clause comes first, you usually don’t use a comma: … , … donarsa is less common but the comma is typically unnecessary in that order.

Is projeksiyon the usual word, or should it be projektör?

Both are used. In everyday Turkish, projeksiyon often stands for projeksiyon cihazı (projector device). Projektör is also understood for a data/video projector, though it can also refer to spotlights/floodlights. If you want zero ambiguity, projeksiyon cihazı is safest.

Is donmak the best verb for electronics, or are there alternatives?

donmak is very common for computers/devices freezing. Alternatives:

takılmak → takılırsa (if it hangs/gets stuck/lags)
kilitlenmek → kilitlenirse (if it locks up) All are idiomatic; nuance varies slightly but all work in tech contexts.

When do I omit the accusative on the object?

Accusative -(y)I marks a specific/definite object. If you mean any extension cord (non-specific), leave it bare and often add bir: Bir uzatma kablosu kontrol et. In this sentence, the idea is the specific cord connected to the device, hence uzatma kablosunu.

Any pronunciation tips for the key words?

projeksiyon: j sounds like the s in English measure; stress usually on the last syllable.
kontrol: clear o vowels; final stress.
donarsa: back vowels; stress near the end.
uzatma kablosunu: note the back vowels a–a in uzatma and the o–u–u sequence in kablosunu; stress tends toward the last syllable of each word.

Can I add an explicit then in the main clause?

Yes. You can say Projeksiyon donarsa, o zaman uzatma kablosunu kontrol et or … o halde …. o zaman or o halde makes the if–then relation explicit but isn’t required.