Learn Hardcore Turkish: Zımbayı bulup tüm belgeleri tutturdum. - I found the stapler and fastened all the documents.

It’s the -Ip converb (allomorphs: -ıp/-ip/-up/-üp) that links two actions with the same subject, usually in sequence: “finding … and then ….” It’s tenseless and takes its time reference from the main verb (tutturdum here).

Why is it zımbayı (accusative) and not just zımba?

Because bulmak takes a direct object, and here the object is definite/specific (“the stapler”). Form: zımba + buffer y + accusative -ı. If it were indefinite, you’d say bir zımba bulup (“found a stapler and …”).

Could I say the sentence with ve instead of -up?

Yes: Zımbayı buldum ve tüm belgeleri tutturdum. Using -up sounds a bit more compact and naturally sequences the actions; ve simply coordinates two full clauses.

Does zımba mean “stapler” or “staple”?

In everyday Turkish, zımba often means “stapler,” but it can also refer to a staple. To be explicit, use:

zımba makinesi = stapler
zımba teli = staples

Why use tutturdum here? Could I say zımbaladım?

Both are fine. tutturmak means “to fasten/attach” (by pinning, gluing, clipping, stapling, etc.). zımbalamak specifically means “to staple.” Since zımba is mentioned, tutturdum clearly implies stapling; zımbaladım would be even more explicit.

What’s inside tutturdum morphologically?

tut-tur-du-m:

tut- = hold
-tur- = causative (“make hold” → fasten/attach)
-du = simple past (vowel-harmonized to the last vowel)
-m = 1st person singular Hence “I fastened/attached.”

How do we know the subject is “I” even though there’s no pronoun?

The verb ending -dum marks 1st person singular past. Turkish normally drops subject pronouns when verb morphology makes the subject clear. The -up clause shares the same subject as the main verb.

Why is tüm belgeleri in the accusative?

Because it’s a definite, total set (“all the documents”), and a definite direct object takes accusative -(y)i. Compare:

Belge tutturdum = I attached documents (some, non-specific)
Tüm belgeleri tutturdum = I attached all the documents (specific, total set)

Is there a difference between tüm and bütün?

They both mean “all,” and here either works: tüm belgeleri / bütün belgeleri. tüm is a bit more formal/neutral; bütün can add an “entire/whole” flavor and is very common in idioms (e.g., bütün gün = all day).

Could I say bulunca or bulduktan sonra instead of bulup?

Yes:

Zımbayı bulunca … = when/once I found the stapler
Zımbayı bulduktan sonra … = after finding the stapler Both are fine; -up simply sequences actions, while -ınca and -diktan sonra make the temporal relation more explicit.

Should I add -la to show the instrument, like zımbayla tutturdum?

You can, but it’s not necessary when the instrument is obvious from context. zımbayla = “with a stapler” (instrumental ile cliticized as -(y)la). If you say zımbaladım, you wouldn’t add zımbayla, since the verb already encodes the instrument.

How flexible is the word order?

The most natural is to place the -up clause before the main action: Zımbayı bulup, tüm belgeleri tutturdum. You can also use explicit temporal forms to move parts around: Tüm belgeleri, zımbayı bulduktan sonra tutturdum. Avoid putting … bulup at the very end.

How do I pronounce the dotless ı in zımba?

Turkish ı is a back, unrounded vowel [ɯ], somewhat like the second vowel in English “roses” or the ‘uh’ in “supply,” but without lip rounding. So zımba ≈ [zɯmˈba].

Can I say tüm belgeler without the accusative as the object?

Not in this meaning. With a definite, total set as a direct object, you need accusative: tüm belgeleri. Bare tüm belgeler would be a subject or part of a different structure.

Does tutturmak have other meanings I should know?

Yes. Besides “fasten/attach,” it can mean “to insist/nag” in certain constructions (e.g., … diye tutturmak = to pester/insist that …). In your sentence, with belgeleri as the object, it clearly means “to fasten/attach.”