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Çilingir kapıyı hızlıca açtı.

Çilingir kapıyı hızlıca açtı.
The locksmith quickly opened the door.
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Questions & Answers about Çilingir kapıyı hızlıca açtı.

What does each word mean here, and what is the basic structure of the sentence?
  • Çilingir = locksmith (subject; nominative, no article in Turkish)
  • kapıyı = the door (definite direct object; accusative case)
  • hızlıca = quickly (adverb of manner)
  • açtı = opened (simple past, 3rd person singular)

Turkish prefers Subject–Object–Verb order, so this is the neutral order: Subject (çilingir) + Object (kapıyı) + Adverb (hızlıca) + Verb (açtı).

Why is it kapıyı and not just kapı?

Because the door is a specific, known door, Turkish marks it with the accusative:

  • kapı-y-ı = kapı (door) + -(y)ı (accusative). Notes:
  • The -(y)ı/-i/-u/-ü choice follows vowel harmony; after kapı (last vowel ı), you get -ı.
  • The buffer consonant y is inserted because the noun ends in a vowel and the suffix begins with a vowel.
  • Accusative on a direct object usually signals definiteness/specificity.
How do I say “a door” instead of “the door”?

Use an indefinite object:

  • Bare indefinite: Çilingir kapı açtı. = The locksmith opened a door. (Grammatical; bare objects are often indefinite.)
  • With an article-equivalent: Çilingir bir kapı açtı. = The locksmith opened a door. (“bir” explicitly marks indefiniteness.) Caution: Without a subject, Kapı açtı is normally read as “The door opened,” so using “bir” avoids ambiguity.
What exactly is happening morphologically in açtı?
  • aç- = open (verb stem)
  • -DI = simple past suffix (comes out as -dı/-di/-du/-dü with vowel harmony, and the consonant becomes t after a voiceless consonant) Because the stem ends in voiceless ç, -DI becomes -tı; and since the last vowel is back (a), the vowel is ı. Result: açtı = (he/she/it) opened.
Where can the adverb go? Must it be right before the verb?

Adverbs of manner typically come right before the verb, but you can move them for emphasis or focus:

  • Neutral: Çilingir kapıyı hızlıca açtı.
  • Also fine: Çilingir hızlıca kapıyı açtı.
  • Fronted for emphasis: Hızlıca çilingir kapıyı açtı.
  • Object focus: Kapıyı çilingir hızlıca açtı. Placing it after the verb (… açtı hızlıca) is uncommon and sounds like afterthought speech.
Can I say hızlı instead of hızlıca?

Yes. Many adjectives can function adverbially:

  • Çilingir kapıyı hızlı açtı. = The locksmith opened the door fast/quickly. Nuance:
  • hızlıca is the derived adverb with -CA and often feels a bit more colloquial or expressive of the manner.
  • hızlı as an adverb is perfectly standard and succinct.
Why is it hızlıca (with -ca) and not hızlıce? And when do we see -ça?
  • The -CA adverbializer follows vowel harmony: after back vowels (a, ı, o, u) it’s -ca; after front vowels (e, i, ö, ü) it’s -ce. Since hızlı has back vowel ı, you get hızlıca.
  • Its consonant also assimilates to voicelessness: after a voiceless consonant, c becomes ç. Compare: açık + -ca → açıkça (clearly).
What about hızla? Is that different from hızlıca?
  • hızla literally “with speed/at speed” (hız + -la) and often translates as “rapidly.” It’s very common with change processes (e.g., “hızla artıyor” = increasing rapidly) but also fine here: Çilingir kapıyı hızla açtı.
  • In this sentence, hızlıca, hızlı, and hızla all work, with subtle stylistic differences rather than big meaning changes.
Why is there no word for “the” before çilingir or kapı?

Turkish has no articles. Specificity/definiteness is shown by:

  • Context and word order for subjects (here, çilingir can be “the locksmith” from context, or “a locksmith” if you add bir).
  • Case marking for direct objects: the accusative (kapıyı) signals a specific door.
Do I need a subject pronoun like “he” or “she” here?
No. Turkish typically drops subject pronouns when the subject is clear. The noun çilingir already serves as the subject. If you replace the noun with a pronoun, you’d say O kapıyı hızlıca açtı. (“O” covers he/she/it; Turkish doesn’t mark gender.)
How do I pronounce the tricky letters in this sentence?
  • ç = ch in “church” (e.g., çilingir, açtı)
  • ı (dotless i) ≈ the “uh” sound in “sofa” (short, central). In kapıyı: ka-pı-yı ≈ “kah-puh-yuh.” In hızlıca: “huz-luh-jah.”
  • i (dotted) ≈ “ee” as in “see” (short). In çilingir: roughly “chee-lin-geer” (with hard g).
  • g is always a hard g (as in “go”) here; there’s no English “soft g” sound.
How would I say “The door was opened quickly (by the locksmith)”?

Use the passive/intransitive:

  • Kapı hızlıca açıldı. = The door was opened/The door opened quickly. To name the agent:
  • Kapı çilingir tarafından hızlıca açıldı. (tarafından = by)
How do I say “He quickly opened his (own) door”?

Add possessive + accusative to the object:

  • Kapı-sı-nı = kapı (door) + -sı (his/her) + -n (buffer) + -ı (accusative) → kapısını
  • Çilingir kapısını hızlıca açtı. = The locksmith quickly opened his (own) door.
What changes if I make things plural?
  • Plural subject: Çilingirler kapıyı hızlıca açtı(lar). Verb agreement -lar after the verb is optional with human plural subjects; both forms are used.
  • Plural definite object: Çilingir kapıları hızlıca açtı. (“the doors”). Note that kapıları can also mean “their doors” depending on context; Turkish relies on context to resolve that ambiguity.
Can you summarize the key morphology in one line?
  • Çilingir kapı-y-ı hızlı-ca aç-tı.
    • çilingir (subject)
    • kapı-y-ı (door + buffer y + accusative = the door)
    • hızlı-ca (fast + adverbializer)
    • aç-tı (open + simple past, 3sg)