Learn Hardcore Turkish: Devam edebilmek için kısa bir mola verelim. - To be able to continue, let's take a short break.

The suffix -ebil/-abil expresses ability or possibility. With the infinitive -mek, devam edebilmek means “to be able to continue,” which in a purpose clause often reads as “so that we can continue.” Without it (just devam etmek için), you state the purpose more neutrally; with -ebil-, you highlight enabling/capability.

Why is the verb in the için clause in the infinitive (-mek) form?

Because purpose is commonly expressed with X-mek/mak için (“in order to X”). The infinitive nominalizes the verb so için can attach. If you want to mark a subject, you can use the nominalized possessive form, e.g., devam edebilmemiz için (“for our being able to continue”).

Why does the ability suffix attach to etmek and not to devam?

In devam etmek, the actual verb is the light verb etmek; devam is a noun. Suffixes that change verbal meaning (like -ebil) attach to the verb, so you get devam edebilmek, just like yardım etmek → yardım edebilmek.

What exactly does için mean here, and could I use diye instead?

Here için means “for / in order to.” With purpose, it’s followed by the infinitive: X-mek için. Diye can also express purpose, but it typically takes a finite verb: “Devam edelim diye kısa bir mola verdik” (we took a short break so that we could continue). Don’t mix a diye purpose clause with a main-clause suggestion using the same mood (“… diye … verelim”)—that’s awkward.

What form is verelim?

It’s the 1st person plural volitional/optative: “let’s V.” Formed with -alım/-elim on the stem. So mola verelim = “let’s take a break.”

How do I know it’s -elim and not -alım?

Vowel harmony. The stem ver- has a front vowel (e), so you use the front variant -elim. With back vowels, you’d use -alım (e.g., bak- → bakalım).

Why does Turkish say mola vermek (“give a break”) when English says “take a break”?

It’s an idiomatic light-verb construction. Turkish often uses vermek with certain nouns to form verbs. Mola vermek and ara vermek both mean “to take a break.” Mola almak exists but is much less common.

Is ara verelim acceptable instead of mola verelim?

Yes. Ara verelim is very common and essentially synonymous. Mola tends to sound a bit “intermission/official break,” ara is broader (“pause”). Kısa bir ara verelim is a very natural alternative.

Why isn’t there an accusative ending on kısa bir mola? Why not molayı?

Accusative is used for definite/specific direct objects. Kısa bir mola is indefinite (“a short break”), so it stays bare. If you made it specific—e.g., şu kısa molayı—then you’d use the accusative.

Can I change the word order? Do I need a comma after the purpose clause?

Yes, you can front or follow the purpose phrase:

Devam edebilmek için, kısa bir mola verelim. (Comma after a fronted adverbial is optional.)
Kısa bir mola verelim, devam edebilmek için. (Afterthought style; acceptable in speech.) Keep the object together before the verb; don’t split kısa bir mola unnaturally.

Why kısa bir mola and not bir kısa mola? Can I omit bir?

With adjectives, the indefinite article bir usually comes between the adjective and the noun: kısa bir mola (“a short break”).
Bir kısa mola sounds marked and usually reads as the numeral “one short break,” which is odd here.
You can omit bir: kısa mola verelim is grammatical, though kısa bir mola is more idiomatic in everyday speech.

Could I just say Devam etmek için instead of Devam edebilmek için?

Yes. Both are fine:

Devam etmek için = “in order to continue” (neutral purpose).
Devam edebilmek için = adds the idea of capability/requirement (“so that we can continue”), which often fits better when the break enables continuing.

How can I make the subject of the purpose clause explicit?

Use the nominalized form with a possessive suffix:

Devam edebilmemiz için kısa bir mola verelim. = “Let’s take a short break so that we can continue.” Pattern: verb + -(y)ebil + -me (nominalizer) + person: -ebilme-m, -ebilme-n, -ebilme-si, -ebilme-miz, -ebilme-niz, -ebilme-leri.

Are there softer or more polite ways to phrase the suggestion?

Yes:

Kısa bir mola verelim mi? (Shall we…?)
Kısa bir mola versek mi? (What if we…?)
With a hedge: İsterseniz kısa bir mola verelim. (If you’d like…) For telling others politely: Kısa bir mola verin, lütfen.

Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?

Devam: de-VAM.
edebilmek: e-de-bil-MEK (stress toward the end).
verelim: ve-re-LİM (stress on the last syllable).
için: i-chin (ç = “ch”).
kısa: kɯ-SA (undotted ı = back unrounded vowel [ɯ]).