Learn Hardcore Turkish: Bu akşam izleyeceğim film çok sakin, sonra rahatlayacağım. - The film I will watch this evening is very calm; afterwards I will relax.

Turkish usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the subject. In both izleyeceğim and rahatlayacağım, the final -m means “I.” You’d add ben only for emphasis: Ben bu akşam izleyeceğim…

How does “izleyeceğim film” work grammatically?

It’s a relative clause built with a participle. Literally: “the film [that] I-will-watch.”

Verb stem: izle-
Future participle: -ecek
1st person singular: -im → together: izleyeceğim
This whole chunk modifies film. Turkish uses participles (not a word like “that/which”) to form relative clauses.

Why is there no accusative -(y)i on “film”? Why not “izleyeceğim filmi”?

In a relative clause like izleyeceğim film, the head noun (film) stays outside the clause and remains unmarked.

Bu akşam izleyeceğim film… = “The film that I will watch tonight…” (correct).
Bu akşam izleyeceğim filmi… is not a complete subject and sounds wrong unless the sentence continues with another predicate (e.g., …çok sakin buluyorum).

Could I say “Bu akşamki film” instead? What’s the difference?

Bu akşamki film = “tonight’s film” (the film scheduled for tonight; neutral about who watches it).
Bu akşam izleyeceğim film = “the film I will watch tonight” (emphasizes your plan/intention).

Why is it “çok sakin” and not “çok sakin bir film”?

Because you’re making a statement about a specific, known film: (Bu akşam izleyeceğim) film çok sakin = “that film is very calm.”
Çok sakin bir film classifies an unspecified film (“a very calm film”). Here we have a definite, specific film.

How are “izleyeceğim” and “rahatlayacağım” formed?

izle-yecek-im → izleyeceğim
rahatla-y-acak-ım → rahatlayacağım
Notes:
Buffer y prevents vowel clash (rahatla + y + acak).
Vowel harmony picks -ecek/-acak (after e → -ecek; after a → -acak).
When a vowel-initial personal ending follows, the k in -ecek/-acak softens to ğ: -ecek + im → -eceğim, -acak + ım → -acağım.
The letter ğ isn’t pronounced; it lengthens the preceding vowel.

Can I use the present continuous for a planned future, like in English?

In a main clause, yes: Bu akşam film izliyorum can mean “I’m watching a film tonight.”
Inside a relative clause, Turkish typically uses the future participle: Bu akşam izleyeceğim film. Forms like izlediğim don’t mean “I’m going to watch”; they usually mean “that I watched/that I have watched.”

Why not say “izleyecek olduğum film” or “izleyeceğim olan film”?

They’re grammatical but wordy or stilted here. The simple participle izleyeceğim is the natural way to say “(that) I will watch.” Use forms with olmak only when you need special emphasis or clarity in complex sentences.

What does “sonra” add? Could I say “ondan sonra” or “daha sonra”?

sonra = “afterwards/then” (general).
ondan sonra = “after that (specific thing just mentioned).”
daha sonra = “later on.”
All work here; sonra is the simplest. You could also be explicit: İzledikten sonra rahatlayacağım (“After watching, I’ll relax”).

What’s the difference between “izledikten sonra” and “izleyince”?

Both mean “after (I) watch,” but:

izledikten sonra is explicit and slightly more formal (“after having watched”).
izleyince is more colloquial and implies an immediate or typical result (“when I watch/once I watch”).

Is the comma before “sonra rahatlayacağım” necessary? Could I use “ve”?

The comma is fine but optional. You could write:

…çok sakin. Sonra rahatlayacağım.
…çok sakin ve sonra rahatlayacağım.
The original comma keeps the flow natural.

Where can I place “Bu akşam” and “sonra” in the sentence?

Default: Bu akşam izleyeceğim film… (time comes early).
You can move it: İzleyeceğim film bu akşam… (still okay, a bit marked).
For the second clause, Sonra rahatlayacağım is the most natural order. Rahatlayacağım sonra is possible but less common.

Does Turkish need a verb “to be” here? What about “-dir”?

No separate “to be” word is needed in the present: film çok sakin = “the film is very calm.”
The suffix -dır/-dir can be added for formality or general truths: Film çok sakindir (not necessary here).

Does “sakin” mean “quiet” or “calm”? Is it the same as “sessiz” or “yavaş”?

sakin: calm, tranquil (overall feel or pace; also “calm person/atmosphere”).
sessiz: quiet, silent (low/no noise).
yavaş: slow (speed).
Depending on nuance, for a film you might also hear huzurlu (peaceful) or rahatlatıcı (relaxing).

Is “çok” always “very”? Could I use something else?

Çok before adjectives usually means “very.” Alternatives (with slightly different tones): gayet (quite), oldukça (rather/fairly), epey (quite).
Example: Film gayet sakin. / Film oldukça sakin.

How do I pronounce the parts with “ğ,” like “izleyeceğim” and “rahatlayacağım”?

The ğ isn’t pronounced as a consonant; it lengthens the preceding vowel:

izleyeceğim ≈ iz-le-ye-jee(m)
rahatlayacağım ≈ ra-hat-la-ya-jaa(m)
The final “m” is clear; the “ğ” itself is silent.

Any common spelling mistakes to avoid?

Write rahatlayacağım, not “rahatlıyacağım.”
Write izleyeceğim, not “izliyeceğim.”
Remember: buffer y before -acak/-ecek if the stem ends in a vowel, and k → ğ before a vowel-initial personal ending.

Could I connect the actions without “sonra,” like “watch and relax”?

Yes: Bu akşam izleyeceğim film çok sakin; izleyip rahatlayacağım.
The connector -ip links sequential actions (“watch and then relax”) and often implies immediate succession. “Sonra” highlights the “afterwards” idea more explicitly.