Learn Hardcore Turkish: Mert çantasını buldu, oysa Zeynep hâlâ arıyor. - Mert found his bag, yet Zeynep is still looking for hers.

çanta = bag
-sı = 3rd-person possessive (his/her/its)
-nı = accusative case for a definite direct object (with buffer n) So çanta-sı-nı = “his/her bag” as a definite object.

Does çantasını mean “Mert’s own bag,” or could it be someone else’s?

It’s ambiguous by itself. In context, it often defaults to the subject’s own bag, but to be clear:

Definitely his own: Mert kendi çantasını buldu.
Definitely someone else’s: Mert onun çantasını buldu.

Why not just say çantayı?

çantayı = “the bag” (definite, but no possessor implied).
çantasını = “his/her bag” (definite and possessed). If you want to emphasize it’s a specific possessed bag, use çantasını.

Why is there an n in çantasını?

It’s a buffer consonant. After a 3rd-person possessive ending (-sı/si/su/sü), Turkish inserts n before case endings to keep vowels from colliding: çanta-sı-nı, ev-i-ne, etc.

Is the possessor gendered? Does çantasını mean “his bag” or “her bag”?

Turkish doesn’t mark grammatical gender. çantasını can mean “his bag” or “her bag,” depending on context.

How is buldu formed?

Stem: bul- (find)
Simple past: -di with vowel harmony → -du
3rd person singular has no extra person ending So: bul-du = “(he/she) found.”

Why is it buldu with d, not bultu with t?

In the simple past, the consonant is d after voiced sounds (like l), and t after voiceless sounds. Since bul- ends in voiced l, you get -du, not -tu.

How is arıyor formed from ara-?

Present continuous is -iyor/-ıyor/-uyor/-üyor. With stems ending in a/e, that vowel raises before -yor:

ara- → arıyor (a → ı) Other examples: anla- → anlıyor, bekle- → bekliyor.

Is it okay to mix tenses like buldu (past) and arıyor (present)?

Yes. It’s very natural: one action is completed (past), while the other is ongoing (present). You could also shift both to a past narrative viewpoint: Mert çantasını buldu(uydu), oysa Zeynep hâlâ arıyordu.

What does hâlâ mean, and why the little hat?

hâlâ means “still/yet (still).” The circumflex distinguishes it from hala (“paternal aunt”). Many people omit the hat in casual writing, but hâlâ avoids ambiguity.

Where can hâlâ go in the sentence?

Common placements:

Zeynep hâlâ arıyor. (most natural)
Hâlâ Zeynep arıyor. (unusual; suggests contrastive focus on Zeynep)
Zeynep hâlâ çantasını arıyor. (if you restate the object) It typically sits before the verb or the verb phrase it modifies.

What does oysa do here?

oysa is a contrastive linker meaning “whereas/however.” It sets up a contrast between the two clauses. It’s somewhat formal/literary; close alternatives are ama, ancak, and halbuki (each with slightly different register/feel).

Can I replace oysa with something else?

Yes:

ama = “but” (colloquial): Mert çantasını buldu, ama Zeynep hâlâ arıyor.
ancak = “however” (more formal).
halbuki = “whereas/yet,” often stressing an unexpected contrast.

Can oysa start a new sentence? What about punctuation?

Absolutely:

Mert çantasını buldu. Oysa Zeynep hâlâ arıyor. A comma or semicolon can precede oysa in one sentence. A period is also fine if you want a stronger break.

Why isn’t the object repeated in the second clause?

Turkish frequently omits recoverable information. After Mert çantasını buldu, it’s clear what Zeynep is searching for, so Zeynep hâlâ arıyor is natural. If you want to repeat it, say Zeynep hâlâ çantasını arıyor.

Is there a way to express the contrast without oysa?

Yes. You can mark contrast on the noun with -ise/ise:

Mert çantasını buldu, Zeynep ise hâlâ arıyor. Here -ise (variant of ise) attaches to Zeynep to signal “as for Zeynep, however…”

How would I make the “found” part evidential/ reported?

Use the reported past -miş:

Mert çantasını bulmuş, oysa Zeynep hâlâ arıyor. This implies you learned it indirectly or are less committed to its truth.

Any pronunciation tips for the tricky letters?

ç = “ch” in “church.”
ı (dotless i) = a back, unrounded vowel; like the final sound in “roses” for many speakers.
â in hâlâ slightly lengthens/raises the vowel; many speakers just say it like a normal “a.”