Learn Hardcore Turkish: Toplantı uzamasın diye soruları en sona bırakalım. - Let’s leave the questions to the very end so the meeting doesn’t run long.

The ending -alım/-elim is the 1st person plural optative: “let’s …”. So bırakalım means “let’s leave/put (it)”. It’s a polite, inclusive suggestion.

Why is soruları in the accusative (the -ı ending)?

Because the object is definite/known: “the questions (we all have in this meeting).” Indefinite plural would be sorular (no -ı). In this context, Turkish typically treats “the questions” as a specific set, hence soruları.

Could I use sorular instead of soruları?

You can say Sorular(ı) en sona bırakalım; both occur in speech. Soruları sounds more like a specific, already-expected set; sorular is more generic. The definite form is slightly more common here.

What exactly does diye do here?

diye introduces a purpose clause: “so that / in order that.” It attaches to a full finite clause: Toplantı uzamasın diye = “so that the meeting doesn’t drag on.” Historically it comes from demek (to say), but here it means “with the intention that.”

Is uzamasın an imperative? What form is it?

It’s the 3rd person singular optative/volitive: uza-ma-sın (root uzamak “to get longer,” negative -ma, 3sg optative -sın) → “let it not get longer.” With diye, this is the standard way to express purpose: “so that it won’t get longer.”

Can I say Toplantının uzamaması için soruları en sona bırakalım?

Yes. With için you must nominalize the verb and mark the subject in genitive: Toplantının uzamaması için. It’s a bit more formal/neutral. … uzamasın diye feels a bit more colloquial and intent-focused. Both are correct.

Why not uzunmasın?

Because uzun is an adjective (long). The verb is uzamak (to get longer). Be careful with look‑alikes:

uzamak: to get longer
uzatmak: to lengthen/prolong (transitive)
uzanmak: to lie down, to reach out

Why is it en sona and not en sonda or sonunda?

en sona: dative (“to the very end”) → matches bırakmak (leave/put to).
en sonda: locative (“at the very end”), used for position/time, not for moving/deferring something to that point.
sonunda: “at the end / finally.” For a specific possessor, say toplantının sonunda (“at the end of the meeting”).

Could I drop en and just say sona?

Yes. sona = “to the end,” en sona = “to the very end” (a bit stronger).

Can I change the word order?

Yes. You can say:

Soruları en sona bırakalım, toplantı uzamasın diye.
Toplantı uzamasın diye, soruları en sona bırakalım. The meaning and tone stay the same; commas help readability.

Would bırakalım mı be more polite?

bırakalım mı? (“shall we leave…?”) is a softer, more open suggestion. bırakalım is a confident proposal/decision. Adding lütfen also softens: Lütfen soruları en sona bırakalım.

Why is Toplantı not marked as Toplantının?

With diye + finite clause, the subject stays in the nominative: Toplantı uzamasın. If you use için + nominalization, you must use genitive: Toplantının uzamaması için.

Is soruları here ambiguous with “his/her/their questions”?

Formally, soruları can also mean “his/her/their questions” (3rd person possessive plural). Context resolves it. If you need clarity, specify the possessor, e.g., katılımcıların sorularını (“the participants’ questions”).

How would I say “Let’s leave asking questions to the end”?

Use a verbal noun: Soru sormayı en sona bırakalım. Same idea, focusing on the activity of asking.

Could I just use two clauses without diye?

Yes: Toplantı uzamasın, soruları en sona bırakalım. That reads like a reason plus a decision. … diye ties them explicitly as purpose.