Aylardır bu projeye katkı sağlıyorum.

I have been contributing to this project for months.

Breakdown of Aylardır bu projeye katkı sağlıyorum.

• bu: this
• proje: the project
• katkı sağlamak: to contribute
• -ye: to
• aylardır: for months

Questions & Answers about Aylardır bu projeye katkı sağlıyorum.

What does Aylardır mean, and how is it built?

It means “for months (up to now).”

• Morphology: ay (month) + -lar (plural) + -dır (copular suffix used here as a duration marker).
• Nuance: It implies the action has been ongoing for a long time and still continues.

Why is the tense progressive (sağlıyorum) if the English feels like “have been …ing”?

Turkish uses the present continuous -yor with a duration adverb like Aylardır to express the English present perfect continuous. So katkı sağlıyorum with Aylardır = “I have been contributing.”

Can I use another tense with Aylardır?

Yes, to shift the time reference:

• Aylardır … sağlıyordum = I had been contributing (then).
• Aylardır … sağlamıyorum = I haven’t been contributing for months.
• More formal present: … sağlamaktayım.

What’s the difference between Aylardır, Aylarca, and …dan beri?

• Aylardır: for months (and it still holds now).
• Aylarca: for months (a long time), not necessarily up to now; often used for past spans too.
• X’den/den beri (e.g., Hazirandan beri): since X (specific starting point) and continuing to now.

How do I say “for two months” or “for a few months”?

• İki aydır (not “iki aylardır”; numerals take singular).
• Birkaç aydır (not “birkaç aylardır”).

Why is it projeye and not proje-e?

Turkish inserts the buffer consonant -y- between vowels. Proje + -e (dative) → projeye (“to the project”).

Why does katkı have no -ı/-i accusative ending?

Because it’s an indefinite direct object (“a contribution” in a general sense). If made definite, you can mark it: gerekli katkıyı sağlıyorum (“I’m providing the necessary contribution”).

What case does katkı sağlamak govern?

It’s typically “provide a contribution to X,” so:

• Object: katkı (indefinite).
• Target: X’e (dative). Example: bu projeye katkı sağlıyorum.

Is katkı sağlamak the only/most natural way to say “contribute”?

It’s common and formal-ish. Alternatives:

• katkıda bulunmak (very standard/formal): bu projeye katkıda bulunuyorum.
• destek vermek/sunmak (give/offer support): more everyday.
• katkı sunmak (offer a contribution): common in formal writing.

Is katkı yapmak or katkı koymak acceptable?

• katkı yapmak: widely heard but often criticized as less idiomatic.
• katkı koymak: colloquial/regional; understood, but less formal. Prefer katkıda bulunmak/katkı sağlamak in careful speech/writing.

Can I use katılmak instead of katkı sağlamak?

No. Katılmak means “to join/attend/participate in,” not “to contribute.” Projeye katılıyorum = “I’m joining/participating in the project,” which is different from contributing resources/effort.

Does word order change the emphasis?

Yes:

• Aylardır bu projeye katkı sağlıyorum: time span emphasized first.
• Bu projeye aylardır katkı sağlıyorum: topic “this project” foregrounded. Meaning remains the same; order tunes focus.

How do I pronounce some tricky parts?

• sağlıyorum: ğ lengthens the preceding vowel; it’s not pronounced as a hard consonant (roughly “sa:lıyorum”).
• projeye: the j is like the “s” in “measure.”
• ı in katkı/sağlıyorum is the undotted back vowel [ɯ], not like English “i.”

Is a comma after Aylardır required?

No. Aylardır bu projeye… is fine without a comma. A comma can be used for extra pause/emphasis but isn’t necessary.

Can I turn this into a negative or a question?

Yes:

• Negative: Aylardır bu projeye katkı sağlamıyorum (“I haven’t been contributing for months.”)
• Question: Aylardır bu projeye katkı sağlıyor musun? (“Have you been contributing to this project for months?”)