Breakdown of Genç adam kitap okuyorsa kulaklığını kullanıyor.
kitap
book
adam
man
genç
young
okumak
to read
kullanmak
to use
kulaklık
headphones
Questions & Answers about Genç adam kitap okuyorsa kulaklığını kullanıyor.
How exactly does okuyorsa mean 'if he is reading'?
It combines the present continuous suffix -yor with the conditional suffix -sa. First, we take the verb root oku (to read) and add -yor to get okuyor (he is reading). Then, we attach the conditional suffix -sa (if). Together, okuyorsa means 'if he is reading right now'.
Why is it just kitap instead of kitabı?
In Turkish, when we talk about a general, non-specific action like 'reading a book' rather than 'reading the specific book', we don't use the accusative case ending. Because the young man is just reading any book in general, the word stays in its plain dictionary form: kitap okuyorsa.
Can you break down the word kulaklığını? It looks really long!
Let's build it step by step. First, kulak means 'ear'. We add -lık to make kulaklık (headphone). Next, we add the possessive -ı to say 'his headphone', which softens the k to a ğ, making it kulaklığı. Finally, because 'his headphones' is the specific thing he is using (the direct object), we add the buffer letter -n- and the accusative suffix -ı, giving us kulaklığını.
Why don't we put -sa on the second verb, kullanıyor?
The conditional suffix -sa (if) only goes on the verb that represents the 'if' part of the sentence (the condition). In English, we put the word 'if' at the beginning of the phrase. In Turkish, it attaches to the end of that phrase's verb (okuyorsa). The result part of the sentence ('he is using...') just stays as a regular present continuous verb (kullanıyor).
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