Breakdown of Korkuyordum, bu yüzden dişçide dolgu yaptırmıyordum.
yapmak
to do / to make
korkmak
to fear
bu yüzden
that's why / therefore
dişçi
dentist
Questions & Answers about Korkuyordum, bu yüzden dişçide dolgu yaptırmıyordum.
How does the causative suffix work in yaptırmıyordum, and why is it -tır instead of -dır?
The root yap means "to do" or "to make". Adding the causative suffix changes it to yaptırmak, meaning "to have someone do something" or "to get something done". It's exactly how Turks express "having a filling done" by a dentist! The suffix is normally -dır, but because the root yap ends in a hard, voiceless consonant (p), the d changes to a t (-tır) to match it.
Why is the negative suffix -mı instead of -ma or -me in yaptırmıyordum?
Normally, the negative suffix is -ma or -me (as in yaptırmamak). However, when it comes right before the continuous suffix -yor, the vowel narrows to ı, i, u, or ü. Since the preceding syllable is -tır, vowel harmony turns the negative suffix into -mı.
Why do both verbs (korkuyordum and yaptırmıyordum) end with -yordum?
This combination forms the past continuous tense. The -yor suffix shows an ongoing action, and the -du suffix places it in the past. Together with the personal ending -m, they translate to "I was fearing" (or "I was afraid") and "I was not having (it) done".