Learn Hardcore Turkish: Sahile inip kısa bir yürüyüş yaptık. - We went down to the shore and took a short walk.

It’s a linker (a converb) that connects two actions with the same subject, usually implying sequence: “doing X and then doing Y.” So inip means “(having) gone down / going down (and then)…”. It’s often smoother than using ve (“and”) between two past actions.

Why is it sahile (dative) and not sahilde or sahili?

sahile = “to the shore” (destination; dative -e/-a). This fits inmek (“to go down to”).
sahilde = “at/on the shore” (locative -de/-da).
sahili = “the shore” as a definite direct object (accusative -i/-ı/-u/-ü), which isn’t needed here.

What exactly does inmek mean here?

İnmek literally means “to descend” or “to get off (a vehicle).” With places, it implies moving downward to reach them. Sahile inmek suggests you were at a higher point (e.g., a promenade or street) and went down to the shore.

Could I say Sahile gidip instead of Sahile inip?

Yes, but it changes the nuance:

gidip = “going (to)” in a neutral way.
inip = “going down (to),” highlighting the downward movement. If the topography matters, inip is more vivid.

Why use kısa bir yürüyüş yaptık instead of simply yürüdük?

yürüdük = “we walked” (focus on the action of walking itself).
yürüyüş yaptık = “we took a walk” (an activity/outings vibe, often leisurely or intentional). It’s a very common collocation in Turkish for “going for a walk.”

Is bir necessary in kısa bir yürüyüş?

Not strictly, but it’s very natural and common with activity nouns: kısa bir yürüyüş sounds more idiomatic than kısa yürüyüş here. Without bir, it can sound a bit clipped or generic.

Why doesn’t yürüyüş take the accusative (-i) here?

Because it’s an indefinite object (“a short walk”). In Turkish, indefinite direct objects are unmarked (no accusative). You’d use the accusative only if the walk were specific/known: e.g., Planladığımız kısa yürüyüşü yaptık (“We did the short walk we had planned”).

How is yaptık formed, and why is it a “t” not a “d”?

Root: yap- (“do/make”)
Past: -DI (harmonizes to -dı/-di/-du/-dü)
1st person plural: -k Because yap- ends with a voiceless consonant (p), the past suffix surfaces as -tı (devoicing: d → t). So: yap-
- -tı
  - -k → yaptık (“we did/made”).

What is the structure of yürüyüş?

It’s the noun derived from yürü- (“to walk”) with the nominalizing suffix -(I)ş, yielding yürüyüş (“a walk; walking” as a noun). Then yürüyüş yapmak literally means “to do a walk.”

Could I say Kısa bir yürüyüş yapıp sahile indik instead? Does the order matter?

Yes, that’s also grammatical. The order changes the sequence you foreground:

Sahile inip… yaptık: went down first, then walked (as in the original).
… yapıp sahile indik: walked first, then went down. Pick the order that matches the actual sequence.

Why is there no biz (“we”)?

Turkish usually omits subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the subject. -k in yaptık already marks “we.” You’d add biz only for emphasis or contrast.

Is a comma needed after inip?

No. You normally don’t use a comma before or after the -ip converb unless you want a special rhetorical pause. The sentence flows fine without it.

Could I use -dikten sonra instead of -ip? For example: Sahile indikten sonra kısa bir yürüyüş yaptık?

Yes. -dikten sonra (“after doing X”) makes the temporal relation explicit. -ip is lighter and often preferred in narrative flow. Both are correct; -dikten sonra is a bit more formal/explicit.

What’s the difference between -ip and -erek (e.g., inerek)?

-ip links actions in sequence or coordination: “did X and (then) did Y.”
-erek/-arak expresses manner/means or simultaneity: “by doing X / while doing X.” Here, inerek would suggest “by descending,” which doesn’t fit well semantically. -ip is the natural choice.

Is sahil the same as plaj?

Not exactly:

sahil = coast/shoreline in general (may be rocky, paved, etc.).
plaj = a beach, typically sandy and used for swimming/sunbathing. So sahile inmek is “go down to the shore/coast”; if you specifically mean a sandy beach, plaja inmek/gidmek works.

How do I pronounce the dotted and dotless i’s in words like kısa, yürüyüş, and inip?

ı (dotless i) in kısa and yaptık is a back, unrounded vowel; there’s no exact English equivalent (think of a relaxed “uh” but without lip rounding).
i (dotted i) as in inip is like English “ee” in “see.”
ü in yürüyüş is a front, rounded vowel (like German “ü” or French “u” in “lune”).