Learn Hardcore Turkish: Ben marketten kuruyemiş alıyorum.

Ben = I (subject; optional for meaning)
market-ten = from the market (root market
- ablative case -den/-dan, which becomes -ten/-tan after a voiceless consonant)
kuruyemiş = nuts/mixed nuts (literally “dry snack,” often nuts and seeds)
al-ıyor-um = I am buying/getting (root al- “take/get/buy” + present continuous -(I)yor
- 1st person singular -um)

Do I need to use the pronoun Ben here?

No. The verb ending -um already shows the subject is “I.” Ben is added for emphasis or contrast. Both are correct:

Marketten kuruyemiş alıyorum.
Ben marketten kuruyemiş alıyorum. (emphasizes that it’s me, not someone else)

Why is it marketten and not markete or markette?

They are different cases:

markete = to the market (dative, -e/-a)
markette = at/in the market (locative, -de/-da)
marketten = from the market (ablative, -den/-dan → here -ten due to consonant harmony)

With almak in the “buy from” sense, you use the ablative: Marketten alıyorum.

Why does the ablative look like -ten instead of -den in marketten?

Consonant assimilation: after voiceless consonants (ç, f, h, k, p, s, ş, t), the d in -den/-dan devoices to t, giving -ten/-tan. Since market ends in t, you get market-ten → marketten. The vowel also obeys front/back harmony (here front: e).

Why is kuruyemiş not plural or marked with any ending?

In Turkish, an indefinite direct object usually appears bare (no accusative). Kuruyemiş is used like a mass/indefinite noun here (“nuts/some nuts”), so no suffix is added. If it’s specific/definite (“the nuts”), use the accusative:

Indefinite: Kuruyemiş alıyorum.
Definite: Kuruyemişi alıyorum. (“I’m buying the nuts.”)

Can I say kuruyemişler alıyorum?

You can, but it’s less common and adds a nuance like “I’m buying (various) nuts (as plural items).” For a generic, indefinite object, Turkish typically uses the singular bare form: kuruyemiş alıyorum. To stress variety, better say çeşit çeşit kuruyemiş alıyorum or use a measure word: bir paket kuruyemiş alıyorum.

Exactly what tense/aspect is alıyorum?

It’s the present continuous (-(I)yor), typically “I am buying/getting.” It can also express near-future plans (“I’m getting [soon]”) or repeated/habitual actions depending on context and adverbs (e.g., hep, sık sık).

How is alıyorum formed?

Root: al- (“take/get/buy”)
Present continuous: -(I)yor; the capital I shows vowel harmony—after al-, it becomes ı → al-ıyor
Person: -um (1st singular), harmonized with the last vowel (o in yor) → -um So: al-ı-yor-um = alıyorum.

Does almak mean “buy” or “take”?

Both, depending on context. With money/shops, almak commonly means “to buy.” If you want to be explicit, use satın almak (“to purchase”): Marketten kuruyemiş satın alıyorum. In other contexts, almak can mean “take,” “receive,” “pick up,” etc.

Can I change the word order?

Yes, Turkish word order is flexible, but the verb usually comes last. Neutral:

(Ben) marketten kuruyemiş alıyorum. To emphasize the source:
(Ben) KURUYEMİŞİ marketten alıyorum. (definite object emphasized)
(Ben) marketten ALIYORUM kuruyemiş. is nonstandard; keep the verb last for naturalness.

How do I negate the sentence?

Insert the negative -ma/-me before -(I)yor (it surfaces as -mıyor/-miyor etc.):

Marketten kuruyemiş almıyorum. = I’m not buying nuts from the market.

How do I turn it into a yes/no question?

Use the question particle mi (written separately and harmonized), and attach the person ending to it:

Marketten kuruyemiş alıyor muyum? = Am I buying nuts from the market? You can also focus different parts: Marketten mi kuruyemiş alıyorum? (Is it from the market that I’m buying nuts?)

How do I say “I’m buying it/them from the market”?

Singular/neutral mass: Onu marketten alıyorum.
Plural (if you think of individual nuts): Onları marketten alıyorum.
With a definite noun: Kuruyemişi marketten alıyorum.

Is kuruyemiş countable or mass? How do I say “a bag of nuts”?

It behaves like a mass noun in the indefinite. Use a measure word for quantities:

bir paket/poşet kuruyemiş = a packet/bag of nuts
bir avuç kuruyemiş = a handful of nuts
bir kilo kuruyemiş = a kilo of nuts

What are the past and future versions?

Simple past: Marketten kuruyemiş aldım. (I bought…)
Past continuous: Marketten kuruyemiş alıyordum. (I was buying…)
Future: Marketten kuruyemiş alacağım. (I will buy…)
Intention/near future (colloquial): Marketten kuruyemiş alıyorum. (I’m getting [soon].)

Pronunciation tips for this sentence?

ı in alıyorum is a close, back, unrounded vowel (no exact English equivalent).
ş in kuruyemiş is “sh.”
marketten has a double tt; keep it crisp.
Default stress is typically on the last syllable: mar-ket-TEN, ku-ru-ye-MİŞ, a-lı-YO-RUM.