Learn Hardcore Turkish: Uzatma kablosu yoksa, lütfen cihazı pencere kenarına taşıyalım. - If there is no extension cord, please let’s move the device next to the window.

In this sentence, yoksa = “if there isn’t/if there’s no …” (the conditional form of the negative existential yok). So: “If there’s no extension cable …”

Yes, yoksa can also mean “otherwise/or else,” linking two clauses:

Hemen gel, yoksa geç kalacağız. = “Come at once, otherwise we’ll be late.”

Context and intonation tell you whether it’s “if not” or “otherwise.” Here it’s clearly the conditional “if there isn’t …,” because it’s followed by a suggested action.

Why is taşıyalım used? What nuance does it have compared to taşı or taşıyın?

Taşıyalım is the 1st‑person plural optative (“let’s …”). It suggests a cooperative, polite action: “let’s move it.” It’s softer than a direct command.

taşı = imperative to one person (“move (it)!”), blunt if used alone.
taşıyın = imperative to you‑plural/you‑formal (“please move (it)”), firm but polite.
taşıyalım = inclusive suggestion (“let’s move it”), often used to soften a request, even if the speaker might not literally help.

Could we make it even more tentative with a question, like taşıyalım mı?

Yes. Taşıyalım mı? = “Shall we move it?” It’s more tentative and collaborative than a bare taşıyalım. With lütfen, it becomes very polite: Lütfen cihazı pencere kenarına taşıyalım mı?

What is the role of lütfen, and where can it go?

Lütfen means “please” and softens commands/requests. It’s flexible in position:

Lütfen cihazı … taşıyalım.
Uzatma kablosu yoksa, lütfen cihazı … taşıyalım.
Cihazı … lütfen taşıyalım. All are fine; placing lütfen before the main request is most common.

Why is it cihazı with the accusative -ı?

Because it’s a specific, definite object (“the device”). Turkish marks definite direct objects with the accusative:

Cihazı taşıyalım. = “Let’s move the device.” (a particular one)
Cihaz taşıyalım. = “Let’s move a device/devices.” (non‑specific)

Why uzatma kablosu and not uzatma kablo?

Uzatma kablosu is an indefinite noun‑noun compound (belirtisiz isim tamlaması):

modifier noun + head noun with 3sg possessive: uzatma
- kablo‑su. You can’t say uzatma kablo; the compound requires -sI on the second noun.

Can you break down the morphology of the key parts?

uzatma = “extension,” nominalized from the verb uzat‑ (“to extend”) with -ma.
kablo‑su = “cable” + 3sg possessive used as the compound marker in noun compounds.
yok‑sa = “not exist” + conditional -sa → “if there isn’t.”
cihaz‑ı = “device” + accusative -ı (definite object).
pencere kenar‑ı‑na = “window edge” (compound: head kenar
- 3sg poss -ı) + dative -a; the linker -n- appears before the case suffix.
taşı‑y‑alım = “carry/move” + buffer -y-
- 1pl optative -alım (“let’s …”).

Why pencere kenarına and not pencerenin kenarına?

Both are possible:

pencere kenarına = indefinite compound (“to the window side/edge” in a generic sense).
pencerenin kenarına = definite (“to the edge of the window,” a particular window). In everyday instructions, the generic pencere kenarına is natural.

What’s the -n- in kenarına?

It’s a buffer consonant used when a possessed noun (with 3sg -sI) takes a case suffix:

kenar‑ı (its edge) + -a (to) → kenar‑ı‑n‑a. Other examples: kapı‑sı‑n‑a (“to its door”), son‑u‑n‑da (“at its end”).

Could we say pencere yanına or pencere önüne instead?

Yes, depending on the spatial nuance:

pencere yanına = “to the side of the window / next to the window.”
pencere önüne = “in front of the window.”
pencere kenarına often means “right by the window/at the window edge,” common for placing things close to the window.

Is the comma after the conditional clause necessary?

A comma after a fronted conditional clause is standard and helps readability:

Uzatma kablosu yoksa, … You can also place the conditional later: Lütfen cihazı … taşıyalım, uzatma kablosu yoksa. Fronting it is more typical.

Could we say uzatma kablomuz yoksa (“if we don’t have an extension cable”)?

Yes. Possessive marking changes the perspective:

Uzatma kablosu yoksa … = “If there isn’t an extension cable …” (general)
Uzatma kablomuz yoksa … = “If we don’t have an extension cable …” To address the listener: Uzatma kablonuz yoksa … = “If you don’t have …”

What about varsa?

Var = “there is/are.” With the conditional:

Uzatma kablosu varsa, onu kullanalım. = “If there is an extension cable, let’s use it.” Paired with yoksa/varsa you can give alternatives: Uzatma kablosu varsa kullanalım; yoksa pencere kenarına taşıyalım.

Is yoksa the same as yok ise?

They’re equivalent in meaning (“if there isn’t”). Yoksa is the fused, more idiomatic form in speech. Yok ise sounds a bit more formal or careful. Both are correct.

Could we just say uzatma yoksa?

Colloquially, people sometimes shorten uzatma kablosu to uzatma in context:

Uzatma yoksa, … can be understood as “If there’s no extension (cable) …” In careful or formal speech, prefer the full uzatma kablosu.

Are the suffix vowels chosen by vowel harmony?

Yes:

kablo‑su: last vowel o (back, rounded) → -su.
cihaz‑ı: last vowel a (back, unrounded) → -ı.
kenar‑ı‑na: last vowel before suffix chain is ı (back) → dative -a, with buffer -n- after -ı.
taşı‑y‑alım: last vowel of stem ı (back) → optative -alım, with buffer -y- after the vowel‑final stem.