Breakdown of Diş fırçasını unuttum, yenisini alacağım.
almak
to buy
unutmak
to forget
yenisi
the new one
diş fırçası
the toothbrush
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Questions & Answers about Diş fırçasını unuttum, yenisini alacağım.
What does the -nı in fırçasını indicate?
It’s the accusative case marker (-ı/‑i/‑u/‑ü by vowel harmony), showing a definite direct object. Diş fırçasını unuttum means “I forgot the toothbrush” (a specific/known one). Without accusative, it would be indefinite: Diş fırçası unuttum “I forgot a toothbrush.”
Why is there -sı in diş fırçası?
Turkish forms many compound nouns with a “possessive-like” suffix on the second noun. Diş fırçası is literally “tooth’s brush,” but it just means “toothbrush.” This is called a noun–noun compound; the -sı here is not real possession by a person.
Why is there an extra -n- in fırçasını instead of fırçasıyı?
When a noun already has a 3rd-person possessive/compound suffix (-sı/‑si/‑su/‑sü), case endings attach with a buffer -n-. So: fırça-sı-nı (compound + buffer n + accusative).
Could I say Diş fırçamı unuttum to mean “I forgot my toothbrush”?
Yes, and it’s very natural. Diş fırça-m-ı = toothbrush + my + accusative. It makes the ownership explicit. The original Diş fırçasını unuttum is “the toothbrush,” but in context it often implies “my toothbrush” anyway.
What’s the difference between diş fırçasını unuttum and diş fırçası unuttum?
- Diş fırçasını unuttum: definite object (the toothbrush we both know about).
- Diş fırçası unuttum: indefinite object (some toothbrush), less common but grammatical.
How is unuttum formed, and why the double t?
Root unut- (to forget) + simple past -DI + 1sg -m. Because t is voiceless, -DI surfaces as -tı/‑tu (vowel harmony + consonant devoicing): unut- + -tu + -m → unuttum (the two t’s meet).
Could I use unutmuşum instead of unuttum?
Yes, but it changes the nuance. Unutmuşum (evidential past) implies discovery/realization (“Looks like I forgot it / I’ve just realized I forgot”). Unuttum is a plain factual past (“I forgot”).
What does yenisini literally mean?
Yeni (new) + 3rd-person possessive -sı (“its new one”) + accusative -nı → yenisini = “the new one (of it).” It refers back to the previously mentioned item (the toothbrush).
Does yenisini mean “a new one” or “the new one”?
In English we translate it as “a new one,” but structurally it’s “its new one,” pointing to the known category. It’s the standard compact way to say “a new one (of that thing we’re talking about).”
Can I say Yeni bir tane alacağım instead of yenisini alacağım?
Yes. Yeni bir tane alacağım is perfectly natural and very common. Yenisini is a bit tighter and more directly tied to a previously mentioned item; yeni bir tane is more general and colloquial.
Why does alacağım have ğ?
Future -AcAK + 1sg -Im on al- gives alacak + -ım. Between vowels, k often softens to ğ: alacağım. The ğ (yumuşak g) lengthens the preceding vowel; it’s not a hard “g.”
Does almak mean “to buy” or “to take”?
Both, depending on context. Here alacağım = “I’ll buy (one).” You can also say satın alacağım for “I will purchase,” but plain almak is very common for buying.
Could I say Onu unuttum, yenisini alacağım?
Yes, if onu (“it”) is clear from context. It’s a natural way to avoid repeating the noun: “I forgot it; I’ll buy a new one.”
Is the word order here typical?
Yes. Turkish prefers object–verb order:
- Diş fırçasını (object) + unuttum (verb)
- Yenisini (object) + alacağım (verb)
How do I pronounce the special letters here?
- ş = “sh” (English “shoe”)
- ç = “ch” (English “chair”)
- ı (dotless i) = a close, unrounded “uh” sound
- ğ lengthens the preceding vowel; it’s not pronounced like hard “g”
Do I need ve (“and”) before the second clause?
No. A comma is fine: Diş fırçasını unuttum, yenisini alacağım. You can add ve, but it’s not necessary here and the comma alone sounds natural.