Questions & Answers about Bu ilaç bir soruna neden oldu.
Why does the word soruna end with -a?
The verb phrase neden olmak (to cause) requires the dative case. This means we must add -a or -e to the thing being caused. So sorun (problem) becomes soruna. You can think of it as the medicine becoming a reason to a problem.
I learned that neden means 'why'. How does it mean 'caused' here?
While neden usually means 'why', it is also a noun meaning 'reason' or 'cause'. When you pair it with the helping verb olmak (to be/become), it creates the compound verb neden olmak, which translates to 'to cause'.
What does the -du ending on oldu do?
The -du suffix is the simple past tense ending for 'it' (in this case, the medicine). The root verb is olmak (to be/become), so oldu means 'became' or 'happened'. Together with neden, neden oldu means 'caused'.
Could I leave out bir and just say soruna neden oldu?
Yes, but it changes the meaning slightly. Without bir, soruna neden oldu sounds more general, like 'caused trouble' or 'caused problems'. Using bir soruna specifically means it caused 'a problem' (one specific issue).