Breakdown of Yeraltı çok karanlık, feneri kapatmamalısın.
çok
very
kapatmak
to turn off / to close
karanlık
dark
yeraltı
underground
Questions & Answers about Yeraltı çok karanlık, feneri kapatmamalısın.
How is the 'must not' suffix formed in kapatmamalısın?
We start with the verb root kapat (to close/turn off). Then we add the negative suffix -ma, the obligation suffix -malı (must/should), and the 'you' ending -sın. Together, kapat-ma-malı-sın translates to 'you must not turn off'.
Why does fener (flashlight) have an -i at the end in this sentence?
It has the accusative case ending -i because it is a specific direct object. You aren't just turning off any flashlight, you are turning off 'the' flashlight. Therefore, fener becomes feneri.
Does yeraltı literally translate to 'under the ground'?
Exactly. It is a compound noun made from yer (ground/earth) and alt (underside/under). The -ı at the end of altı is a possessive suffix linking it to yer (literally 'ground's under'). Together, they mean 'underground'.
Where is the word for 'is' in the first part of the sentence (Yeraltı çok karanlık)?
In Turkish, present tense sentences using 'is' or 'are' usually don't need a verb or suffix for the third-person ('he/she/it'). Yeraltı çok karanlık literally means 'Underground very dark,' which naturally translates to 'The underground is very dark.'