Questions & Answers about Onun yanına gidiyorum.
Why is there an -n- in the middle of yanına?
This is the special buffer letter -n-. The word yan (side) has the 3rd person possessive suffix -ı to make yanı (his side). When we want to add a case suffix like the dative -a (to) right after a 3rd person possessive suffix, Turkish requires the buffer -n- instead of the usual -y-. So it becomes yan-ı-n-a.
Why do we use onun (his/her) here if the English translation says "next to him"?
In Turkish, location words like "next to" or "behind" are treated as nouns. Yan means side. To say "next to him", you literally say "to his side" (onun yanına). It is a possessive phrase, built exactly like saying "his car".
What does the -a at the end of yanına do?
It is the dative case suffix, which means "to" or "towards". Because you are going to a destination, you must attach -a (or -e) to the end of that destination. Combined with the rest of the word, yanına means "to his side".
Why is the verb gidiyorum spelled with a d instead of a t?
The root of the verb "to go" is git-. When you add a suffix that starts with a vowel, like the present continuous -iyor, the hard t softens to a d to make it easier to pronounce. This makes it gidiyorum instead of gitiyorum.
Learn Onun yanına gidiyorum and more in Turkish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free