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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 -mak and not -mek?
It follows vowel harmony. The last vowel of the stem yap- is a back vowel (a), so the infinitive uses the back form -mak. With a front-vowel stem, you’d see -mek (e.g., gitmek, gelmek).
Do I need to say Ben?
No. The ending -um in istiyorum already shows first person singular (“I”). Ben is optional and used for emphasis or contrast:
- Bağış yapmak istiyorum. (neutral)
- Ben bağış yapmak istiyorum. (I, as opposed to someone else, want to donate.)
Can I say İstiyorum bağış yapmak?
It’s grammatically possible but unnatural. In Turkish, the complement (the thing you want) usually comes before istemek. So Bağış yapmak istiyorum is the natural order.
Why isn’t bağış marked with the accusative (-ı)?
Because bağış yapmak functions as a set verb phrase (“to make a donation”), not as “to do the donation [specific one].” There’s no specific, definite object here, so no accusative is needed.
Should I add bir (a/an), like Bir bağış yapmak istiyorum?
Usually no. With light-verb action nouns, adding bir often sounds unnecessary. But if you qualify it, bir can be fine:
- Natural: Küçük bir bağış yapmak istiyorum. (I want to make a small donation.)
- Less natural: Bir bağış yapmak istiyorum.
What’s the difference between istiyorum and isterim?
- İstiyorum (present progressive) = a current, concrete desire; very common in speech (“I want/I’d like”).
- İsterim (aorist) = general preference, or a more formal/polite tone (“I would like”).
Both can work; isterim can feel more polite or formal in some contexts.
How would I make it even more polite?
Options:
- Bağış yapmak isterim. (I would like to make a donation.)
- Bağışta bulunmak isterim. (More formal.)
- Bağış yapabilir miyim? (Could I make a donation?)
Softening with past progressive is also common in speech: - Bağış yapmak istiyordum. (I was wanting to make a donation.)
How do I say it in the negative?
- Bağış yapmak istemiyorum. (I don’t want to donate.)
- A more general/less immediate statement: Bağış yapmak istemem. (I wouldn’t want to donate / I don’t care to donate.)
How do I specify what or where I want to donate?
- What: put it before the verb.
- Para bağışlamak istiyorum. (I want to donate money.)
- Kan bağışı yapmak istiyorum. (I want to make a blood donation.)
- Where/To whom: use the dative -e/-a.
- Bir hayır kurumuna bağış yapmak istiyorum. (I want to donate to a charity.)
How is istiyorum built morphologically?
- Verb root: iste- (to want)
- Progressive: -iyor (with vowel harmony/contraction after a vowel-ending stem)
- Person: -um (1st singular)
Together: iste- + -iyor + -um → istiyorum.
How do I pronounce the tricky letters in Bağış yapmak istiyorum?
- ğ (yumuşak g) lengthens the preceding vowel; it’s not a hard “g.” In bağış, the a is lengthened.
- ı (dotless i) is a back, unrounded vowel, like a relaxed “uh” but higher: ɯ.
- ş is “sh.”
Approximation: baah-ɯsh yap-mak is-tee-yo-room.
Is there a separate word for “to” in Turkish infinitives?
No. Turkish uses the suffix -mak/-mek for the infinitive. So “to donate” is expressed by the infinitive form (e.g., bağış yapmak, bağışlamak), not a separate “to.”
How would I form a yes/no question from this idea?
Use the question particle mi/mi/mu/mü after the main predicate:
- 1st person: Bağış yapmak istiyor muyum? (Do I want to donate?) More useful in context (asking permission/offer):
- Bağış yapabilir miyim? (May/Can I make a donation?)