Learn Turkish: Türkçe öğrenmeye niyetin var mı?

This is the main focus of this lesson! The root is öğren- (learn). We add -me to turn it into a verbal noun (learning). Then we add the dative case -e (with a buffer -y-). We need the dative here because the word niyet (intention) pairs with it. Literally, you are saying 'intention TO learning'.

Why do we use 'niyetin var mı' instead of a verb for 'intend'?

Turkish often lacks direct verbs for concepts like this and instead uses the 'to have' structure with var (there is). Niyet means intention, and -in is the possessive ending making it 'your intention'. Combined with var mı, you are literally asking, 'Does your intention exist?'

Why is 'Türkçe' placed right before 'öğrenmeye'?

In Turkish, an object always goes immediately before its related verb or verbal noun. Here, Türkçe is the object of the verbal noun öğrenmeye, so they must stay together as a chunk: Türkçe öğrenmeye (to learning Turkish).

How do I choose between '-maya' and '-meye' for these verbal nouns?