Learn Hardcore Turkish: Akıllı saatimi takıp nabzımı kontrol ettim. - I put on my smartwatch and checked my pulse.

Because they are definite direct objects. In Turkish, definite direct objects take the accusative suffix -(y)I. Phrases like akıllı saatim (my smartwatch) and nabzım (my pulse) are inherently definite, so when they are objects, they become akıllı saatimi and nabzımı. If you removed the accusative, you’d get an indefinite object: akıllı saat takıp... would suggest “putting on a (some) smartwatch,” which is a different meaning.

How is akıllı saatimi formed morphologically?

Base noun: akıllı saat (smartwatch)
1st person singular possessive: akıllı saat-
- -(I)m → akıllı saatim (my smartwatch)
Accusative case: akıllı saatim-
- -(y)I → akıllı saatimi So: akıllı saat + im + i → akıllı saatimi

Why is it saatimi, not saatımı? Doesn’t vowel harmony predict ı after a?

Saat is an exception for vowel harmony: despite containing back vowel(s) a, it typically takes front-vowel suffixes. So you get saati, saatim, saatler (not saatı, saatım, saatlar). Hence akıllı saatimi is correct. This is a well-known, lexicalized exception.

How is nabzımı formed? Why not nabızımı?

Base noun: nabız (pulse)
When a vowel-initial suffix is added, nabız loses its final ı and the stem becomes nabz- (vowel drop).
1sg possessive: nabz-
- -(I)m → nabzım (my pulse)
Accusative: nabzım-
- -(y)I → nabzımı So: nabız → nabz- + ım + ı → nabzımı. This vowel-drop also happens in words like ağız → ağzım/ağzı and alın → alnım/alnı.

What does the -ıp in takıp do?

It’s the converb suffix -ıp/‑ip/‑up/‑üp, used to chain actions with the same subject, often meaning “and (then)” or “after doing X.” Takıp = “having put on/putting on,” so akıllı saatimi takıp links to the next action nabzımı kontrol ettim.

Could I just use ve instead of -ıp?

Yes. A fully finite coordination is fine: Akıllı saatimi taktım ve nabzımı kontrol ettim. Using -ıp is a bit tighter and more “event-sequencing” in feel, but both are natural.

What about -dıktan sonra or -ınca/-ince? How do they differ from -ıp?

-dıktan sonra emphasizes temporal succession (“after doing X”): Akıllı saatimi taktıktan sonra nabzımı kontrol ettim.
-ınca/-ince means “when/whenever”: Akıllı saatimi takınca nabzımı kontrol ettim.
-ıp is lighter and simply chains actions (“did X and then Y”), without explicitly highlighting “after” or “when.”

Why is it kontrol ettim and not a single-word verb like kontrolledim?

In Turkish, many noun-based actions are formed with the light verb etmek. Kontrol etmek = “to check.” So the past 1sg is kontrol ettim. There’s no verb kontrollemek in standard usage for this meaning (though you may see kontrol etmek or sometimes kontrolünü yapmak).

Why the double t in ettim?

Past tense is -di/-dı/-du/-dü, which devoices to -ti/-tı/-tu/-tü after voiceless consonants. With et- + -di, the d devoices and assimilates, yielding et-di → etti; with 1sg: ettim.

Is the subject pronoun ben necessary?

No. The verb ending -im in ettim already marks first person singular. Ben can be added for emphasis or contrast: Ben akıllı saatimi takıp nabzımı kontrol ettim.

Can I change the word order?

Turkish is flexible, but the default places objects before their verbs. The original order neatly pairs each object with its verb: [akıllı saatimi] takıp [nabzımı] kontrol ettim. You can front or focus elements, e.g., Nabzımı, akıllı saatimi takıp kontrol ettim, but keep clarity: objects should stay close to the verb they belong to.

Does -ıp require the same subject in both actions?

Yes. -ıp assumes the same subject carries out both actions. If subjects differ, use separate finite clauses (and repeat subjects): Ben akıllı saatimi taktım ve o nabzını kontrol etti.

Why do body parts take possessive endings, as in nabzımı?

In Turkish, body parts are typically marked with possessive endings to indicate whose body part it is, especially when they’re objects: Elimi yıkadım (I washed my hand), Saçımı taradım (I combed my hair), Nabzımı kontrol ettim (I checked my pulse). Using no possessive would imply someone else’s body part or be unidiomatic.

Can I add where I put the watch, like “on my wrist”?

Yes: Akıllı saatimi koluma takıp nabzımı kontrol ettim. With takmak, you can optionally specify the body part with a dative: parmağıma yüzük taktım, kulağıma küpe taktım.

How would I say “without putting on my smartwatch, I checked my pulse”?

Use the negative converb -madan/-meden: Akıllı saatimi takmadan nabzımı kontrol ettim.