Breakdown of Kavşağa gelirken otobüsü sollamak tehlikeli olabilir.
otobüs
bus
gelmek
to come
olmak
to be
tehlikeli
dangerous
kavşak
intersection
sollamak
to overtake
Questions & Answers about Kavşağa gelirken otobüsü sollamak tehlikeli olabilir.
How is gelirken formed here to mean 'while approaching'?
It combines the verb root gel- (to come) with the aorist tense suffix -ir and the conjunction -ken (while). So gelirken literally means 'while coming'. When used with the dative case in kavşağa (to the intersection), the phrase 'while coming to the intersection' translates nicely to 'while approaching the intersection'. Note that -ken is an exception and never changes for vowel harmony.
Why does the dictionary word kavşak (intersection) become kavşağa in this sentence?
We need the dative case suffix -a because the action of coming is directed towards the intersection. When we add a vowel suffix to a word ending in k, the k usually softens into a ğ (soft g). Therefore, kavşak plus -a becomes kavşağa.
Why is it otobüsü with an -ü at the end instead of just otobüs?
The suffix -ü is the accusative case, which marks a specific direct object. While the English translation says 'overtaking a bus', the Turkish sentence frames it as overtaking 'the specific bus in front of you'. If you used the bare word otobüs, the phrase otobüs sollamak would mean the general, abstract concept of 'bus-overtaking'.
Where does the word sollamak (to overtake) come from?
It comes from the word sol, which means 'left'. Since overtaking is typically done in the left lane, sollamak literally means 'to pass on the left'. Here it has the infinitive suffix -mak because it acts as a noun: the act of 'overtaking'.
What makes up the word olabilir (can be)?
It is built from the verb root ol- (to be / to become), the possibility suffix -abil- (can), and the aorist tense suffix -ir, which is used for general facts or statements. Together, they form olabilir, meaning 'it can be' or 'it is possible to be'.
Learn Kavşağa gelirken otobüsü sollamak tehlikeli olabilir 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