Fareyi oynatınca imleç sağ sekmeye gitti.

Questions & Answers about Fareyi oynatınca imleç sağ sekmeye gitti.

What does -ınca in oynatınca mean?

-ınca / -ince / -unca / -ünce is a common Turkish suffix meaning when, once, or after doing something, depending on context.

So:

  • oynatmak = to move / make move
  • oynatınca = when (someone) moved it / once (someone) moved it

In this sentence, Fareyi oynatınca... means something like when the mouse was moved or when you moved the mouse.

The vowel changes because of vowel harmony:

  • -ınca
  • -ince
  • -unca
  • -ünce
Why is it fareyi and not just fare?

Because fare is the direct object of oynatmak, and in Turkish a specific direct object usually takes the accusative ending.

  • fare = mouse
  • fareyi = the mouse

So:

  • fare oynatmak would sound non-specific or unusual here
  • fareyi oynatmak = to move the mouse

The -y- is just a buffer letter added between the noun and the vowel-initial ending:

  • fare + ifareyi
Why is the verb oynatmak used here? Isn’t oynamak usually to play?

Yes, oynamak often means to play, but it can also mean to move, wiggle, shift, depending on context.

oynatmak is the causative form, literally to make move.

So in this sentence:

  • oynamak = to move oneself / play
  • oynatmak = to cause something to move

With fareyi oynatmak, the idea is to move the mouse.
This is a natural Turkish way to say that you physically moved the mouse.

What does imleç mean exactly?

İmleç usually means cursor or pointer in computer-related contexts.

Depending on the situation, it could refer to:

  • the mouse pointer
  • a text cursor
  • a selection indicator

So here it most likely means the cursor/pointer on the screen.

Why is it sekmeye and not just sekme?

Because gitmek normally takes the dative case for the destination.

  • sekme = tab
  • sekmeye = to the tab

So:

  • sağ sekmeye gitti = it went to the right tab

The ending -e / -a marks direction toward something.

Examples:

  • eve gitti = went home
  • okula gitti = went to school
  • sekmeye gitti = went to the tab
What does sağ sekme mean?

sağ means right, and sekme means tab.

So sağ sekme means the right tab or the tab on the right.

In Turkish, adjectives come before the noun, just like in English:

  • sağ sekme = right tab
  • büyük ev = big house
  • mavi araba = blue car
What tense is gitti?

Gitti is the simple past tense of gitmek (to go).

Breakdown:

  • git- = verb stem
  • -ti / -dı / -du / -dü = past tense ending, with sound changes

So:

  • gitti = went

In the sentence, it tells you that the movement of the cursor happened as a completed event.

Who is the subject here? Why isn’t it stated?

The subject of gitti is imleç, so that part is clear:

  • imleç ... gitti = the cursor went...

But in fareyi oynatınca, the person who moved the mouse is not explicitly stated. Turkish often leaves that kind of subject unstated when it is obvious from context.

So it can mean:

  • when you moved the mouse
  • when the mouse was moved
  • once someone moved the mouse

Turkish often relies on context more than English does.

Why is the sentence ordered this way?

Turkish commonly puts a time/condition clause first and the main action after it.

So this structure is very natural:

  • Fareyi oynatınca = when the mouse was moved
  • imleç sağ sekmeye gitti = the cursor went to the right tab

This is similar to English sentences like:

  • When I clicked, the window opened.
  • After you moved the mouse, the cursor went to the right tab.

Turkish word order is flexible, but this order is especially natural because it gives the background event first and the result second.

Is there a more literal way to understand the whole sentence?

Yes. A useful word-by-word breakdown is:

  • fareyi = the mouse
  • oynatınca = when (someone) moved it
  • imleç = the cursor
  • sağ = right
  • sekmeye = to the tab
  • gitti = went

A fairly literal reading would be:

When the mouse was moved, the cursor went to the right tab.

That kind of breakdown can help you see how Turkish builds meaning through suffixes rather than separate function words.

AI Language TutorTry it ↗
Your avatar
What's the best way to learn Turkish grammar?
Turkish grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Turkish

Master Turkish — from Fareyi oynatınca imleç sağ sekmeye gitti to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • AI tutor to answer your grammar questions