Learn Turkish: Tren rötar yaptı, yolculuk başlayamadı. - The train was delayed, the journey could not start.

Let's break it down! It starts with the verb root başla- (to start). To say 'could not', we add the inability marker -(y)a, followed by the negative -ma, and the past tense -dı. Because başla- ends in a vowel, we need the buffer letter -y- before adding the inability suffix. This gives us başla-y-a-ma-dı (could not start).

Why use rötar yaptı instead of just saying the train was late (gecikti)?

Rötar yapmak (literally 'to make a delay') is a specific expression used almost exclusively for transportation delays, like trains, planes, or buses. While gecikti (was late) is perfectly understood, rötar yaptı is the most natural way to talk about transit schedules in Turkish.

How is the word yolculuk (journey) built?

It is built from the word yol (road or way). Adding the profession or habit suffix -cu makes yolcu (traveler or passenger). Adding the abstract noun suffix -luk turns 'traveler' into the concept of travel itself: yolculuk (journey or trip).

Both verbs (yaptı and başlayamadı) end right after the past tense marker. Why are there no personal endings?