Bağış yapmak istiyorum.

to want

Breakdown of Bağış yapmak istiyorum.

• yapmak: to make
• bağış: the donation

Questions & Answers about Bağış yapmak istiyorum.

Why does the sentence use the verb yapmak after bağış?

In Turkish, many actions are expressed with a noun + a “light verb.” Bağış is a noun (donation), and yapmak means “to do/make,” so bağış yapmak literally means “to make a donation.” This is a very natural, common way to say “to donate.”

Could I use the verb bağışlamak instead of bağış yapmak?

Yes. Bağışlamak means “to donate” (and also “to forgive”). Both are correct:

• Bağış yapmak istiyorum = I want to make a donation. (very common, neutral)
• Bağışlamak istiyorum = I want to donate (something).
  When you specify what you’re donating, bağışlamak is especially natural:
• Para bağışlamak istiyorum. (I want to donate money.)
• Kan bağışlamak istiyorum. (I want to donate blood.)
  There’s also a formal option: bağışta bulunmak (to make a donation).

What exactly is the role of -mak in yapmak here?

-mak/-mek is the infinitive ending (the “to” form). The structure is “infinitive + istemek” (to want):

• bağış yap-mak (to make a donation) + istiyorum (I want)
  So: “I want to make a donation.”

Why is it and not ?