Learn Hardcore Turkish: Bana göre çözüm basit: önce dinleyelim, sonra karar verelim. - In my view, the solution is simple: let’s listen first, then decide.

Bana göre literally “according to me,” a bit more neutral/impersonal and common in formal or careful speech/writing.
Bence “as for me/for my part,” feels more direct and conversational. In this sentence, either works.

Why is it bana (dative) before göre?

Because göre is a postposition that requires the dative case: X’e göre = “according to X.” Examples: sana göre, ona göre, kurala göre, yasaya göre.

Can I move bana göre elsewhere in the sentence? Does word order change the emphasis?

Yes.

Bana göre çözüm basit foregrounds “in my opinion.”
Çözüm bana göre basit puts the focus more on “the solution (as I see it) is simple.”
Turkish allows flexible word order for emphasis; meaning stays the same.

Where is the verb “to be” in çözüm basit?

Turkish nominal sentences often have a “zero copula” in the 3rd person present, so çözüm basit literally “solution simple.” You can add -dir for formality or emphasis: Çözüm basittir.

When should I use the -dir ending (as in basittir)?

Use -dir/-dır/-dür/-dur for:

General truths or definitions,
Formal/academic style,
Emphasis or clarity.
Without it is perfectly normal in everyday speech.

What’s the difference between çözüm basit and basit çözüm?

Çözüm basit = “The solution is simple” (predicate adjective; statement).
Basit çözüm = “a simple solution” (attributive adjective before the noun).
The syntax changes the role of the adjective.

How do önce and sonra function here? Do I need ve (“and”)?

They’re sequencing adverbs: önce “first,” sonra “then/after that.” You don’t need ve; the comma is enough: Önce …, sonra …. You can say önce … sonra da … for a smooth “and then,” but ve is usually unnecessary.

What’s the difference between önce and önceden?

Önce: “first/before (in sequence).” Example: Önce dinleyelim.
Önceden: “beforehand/previously.” Example: Önceden haber ver (“Let me know in advance”).

What about sonra, daha sonra, and sonrasında?

All mean “after/then,” with nuance:

Sonra: neutral “then/after that.”
Daha sonra: “later on,” a bit more delayed or formal.
Sonrasında: “afterwards/thereafter,” more formal or narrative.

What exactly is the verb ending -elim in dinleyelim and verelim?

It’s the 1st person plural optative/imperative: “let’s …”. So dinleyelim = “let’s listen,” verelim (from karar vermek) = “let’s decide.”

How do I make the negative: “let’s not …”?

Add the negative to the stem before -elim:

dinlemeyelim = “let’s not listen,”
karar vermeyelim = “let’s not decide.”

What’s the difference between dinleyelim and dinleyin?

Dinleyelim includes the speaker: “let’s listen.”
Dinleyin addresses “you” (plural/polite): “listen (you all / sir/ma’am).”

Why is it dinleyelim (with a y) and not dinlelim?

The verb stem is dinle-. When a suffix starting with a vowel follows, Turkish often inserts a buffer y: dinle + elim → dinleyelim.

Why use karar vermek for “to decide”? Could I say karar almak?

Yes, both exist:

Karar vermek is the everyday collocation “to make a decision.”
Karar almak appears often in bureaucratic/official contexts (boards, committees). In daily speech, karar vermek is more common.

How do I say “decide on X” or “decide about X”?

Two common patterns:

X’e karar vermek (dative): “to decide on X.” Example: Buna karar verelim.
X konusunda karar vermek: “to decide on the matter of X.”
Both are idiomatic.

Can I say Önce dinleyip sonra karar verelim?

Yes. The -ip converb links actions: dinleyip = “listening and then.” It’s a very natural alternative: Önce dinleyip, sonra karar verelim.

Is ilk önce okay, or is it redundant?

People say ilk önce, but it’s pleonastic (“first first”). Plain önce or öncelikle is preferred in careful usage.

Why is there a colon after basit?

Turkish uses a colon to introduce an explanation or list, just like English. Çözüm basit: … signals the steps that explain “the solution.”

Does basit carry any negative connotation compared to kolay?

Sometimes.

Basit = “simple/basic,” and can imply “unsophisticated” or even “trivial” depending on context.
Kolay = “easy.”
Here, basit is neutral, meaning the solution isn’t complicated.

Do I need to write basittir with double t?

Yes. With -dir, consonant harmony makes it -tir after an unvoiced consonant, and the final t of basit remains: basit + tir → basittir. Both pronunciation and spelling have the double t.