Learn Hardcore Turkish: Marangoz ölçü alıp yeni bir raf yapacak. - The carpenter will take measurements and make a new shelf.

Turkish has no articles. A bare singular subject like Marangoz is typically understood as a specific/known carpenter from context (roughly “the carpenter”). If you want to introduce an indefinite/new subject, use Bir marangoz (“a carpenter”).

Why is it raf and not rafı? Shouldn’t a direct object take the accusative?

In Turkish, the direct object gets accusative only if it’s specific/definite. Here yeni bir raf is indefinite, so no accusative. If you mean a specific shelf, you’d say:

yeni rafı (the new shelf)
o rafı (that shelf)

Avoid mixing “indefinite” with accusative on the same noun, e.g. yeni bir rafı is usually incorrect; say yeni rafı or “one of the new shelves” = yeni raflardan birini.

Why is bir after the adjective (yeni bir raf) instead of before it (bir yeni raf)?

Default word order is adjective + bir + noun: yeni bir raf (“a new shelf”). When you want to emphasize the numeral “one,” speakers usually prefer bir tane/ bir adet yeni raf or intonation. Bir yeni raf is rare and sounds literary/unusual in everyday speech.

What’s the difference between ölçü almak and ölçmek?

ölçmek = “to measure (something)” and takes a direct object: X’i ölçmek.
ölçü almak = “to take measurements,” an idiomatic collocation often used by tradespeople. It’s more general and doesn’t require specifying the measured thing. Both are fine, but in this context ölçü almak sounds natural and idiomatic.

How does the ending in alıp work, and why is it -ıp (with dotless ı) here?

-ıp/-ip/-up/-üp is a converb that links actions done by the same subject, usually in sequence (“doing X and then Y”). It harmonizes with the last vowel of the verb stem:

al-
- -ıp → alıp (a → ı)
gel-
- -ip → gelip
tut-
- -up → tutup
düş-
- -üp → düşüp

So ölçü alıp = “(by) taking measurements and then ...”

Can I use ve instead of -ıp? For example, Ölçü alacak ve yeni bir raf yapacak?

Yes. -ıp is tighter and tends to imply sequence (“and then”), while ve is a plain “and.” Both are correct:

Ölçü alıp yeni bir raf yapacak (natural, compact, sequential)
Ölçü alacak ve yeni bir raf yapacak (equally correct)

Should ölçü be accusative or plural, like ölçüleri or ölçüsünü?

It depends on specificity:

General/unspecified: ölçü alıp (fine as-is)
Specific measurements (plural): ölçüleri alıp
Measurements of a specific thing: duvarın ölçüsünü alıp (“take the wall’s measurements”) Use accusative when the measurements are definite/specific.

How is yapacak formed? How do I negate it or ask a yes/no question?

Formation: yap- (do/make) + -acak/-ecek (future) + 3sg = yapacak.
Negative: insert -ma/-me before the tense → yapmayacak.
Yes/no question: add the separate particle mi/mı/mu/mü (vowel harmony) → yapacak mı? Note that mi is written separately: yapacak mı.

What nuance does the future (-acak/-ecek) have compared with yapıyor or yapar?

yapacak: planned/expected future or intention (“will/is going to”).
yapıyor: ongoing/progressive (“is making” right now/around now).
yapar: habitual/general or timeless statements (“(usually) makes”). So the sentence states a plan/expectation about the future.

Is the verb supposed to be at the end? Can I move parts around?

Neutral Turkish word order is SOV (Subject–Object–Verb), so the finite verb typically comes last:

Marangoz ölçü alıp yeni bir raf yapacak. You can reorder for emphasis, but keep the finite verb at the end of its clause. Examples:
Focus on the object: Yeni bir rafı marangoz yapacak. (“It’s the carpenter who will make the new shelf.”)
Add adverbs: Marangoz önce ölçü alıp sonra yeni bir raf yapacak.

If the subject were plural (Marangozlar), does the verb have to be plural (-lar) too?

With third-person plural subjects, the predicate can be either singular or plural:

Marangozlar ölçü alıp yeni bir raf yapacak.
Marangozlar ölçü alıp yeni bir raf yapacaklar. Both are correct; adding -lar on the verb is common (especially with human subjects) but not obligatory.

Does ölçü alıp mean “after taking measurements” or “while taking measurements”? How is ölçü alarak different?

-ıp typically implies sequence: “take measurements and then …”
-arak/-erek often means “by/while doing” (manner/simultaneity):
- ölçü alarak = “by taking measurements” (as a method), not necessarily “first X, then Y.”

How do I pronounce the special letters (ö, ç, ü) and the c in yapacak?

ö: front rounded vowel (like German ö, French eu).
ç: “ch” in “church.”
ü: front rounded “u” (German ü, French u in “tu”).
c: “j” in “judge” (so yapacak = “yapa-jak”). Word stress is usually on the last syllable: maraNGAOZ? Actually: 'marangoz' last-syllable stress → ma-ran-GOZ; ölçü → öl-ÇÜ; yapacak → ya-pa-CAK.

Can I say yeni bir rafı yapacak?

Generally no, because bir (indefinite) clashes with accusative (definite). For “the new shelf,” drop bir and say yeni rafı yapacak. If you mean “one of the new shelves,” use a partitive structure: yeni raflardan birini yapacak.

Where can I put a time word like “tomorrow” (yarın)?

Time adverbs are flexible. Common placements:

Marangoz yarın ölçü alıp yeni bir raf yapacak.
Yarın marangoz ölçü alıp yeni bir raf yapacak. Keep the finite verb at the end of the clause.

What’s the effect of saying yapacaktır instead of yapacak?

Adding -dır/-dir (→ yapacaktır) sounds more formal or expresses stronger certainty/inference (“He will surely/definitely make…”). In everyday speech, plain yapacak is more common.