Breakdown of Sen savcıya her şeyi anlatmalıydın.
sen
you
her
every
anlatmak
to explain, to tell
şey
thing
savcı
prosecutor
Questions & Answers about Sen savcıya her şeyi anlatmalıydın.
How do the suffixes on anlatmalıydın create the meaning "should have told"?
Let's break it down: anlat- is the verb root (to tell/explain). -malı is the necessity suffix (should/must). The -y- is a buffer letter, followed by -dı (the past tense suffix) and -n (the "you" personal ending). When you combine -malı with the past tense -dı, it creates an unfulfilled past obligation, giving us "you should have told" (implying that you didn't).
Why does "her şey" take the "-i" suffix here?
The phrase her şey (everything) is the direct object of the verb anlatmak. In Turkish, when "everything" is the object of an action, it is treated as a specific, definite thing. Therefore, it requires the definite accusative suffix -i, becoming her şeyi.
Why is the word for prosecutor (savcı) written as "savcıya"?
The verb anlatmak (to tell/explain) requires the dative case for the person receiving the information (telling to someone). Since savcı ends in a vowel, we add the buffer letter -y- before the dative suffix -a, making it savcıya (to the prosecutor).
Is the word "Sen" at the beginning necessary, since the verb already ends in "-n"?
Grammatically, no. The -n at the end of anlatmalıydın perfectly indicates that the subject is "you". However, adding the overt pronoun Sen gives the sentence extra emphasis or contrast. It highlights that you specifically were the one who should have done this, pointing directly to your responsibility.
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