Breakdown of O başarılı bir girişimci, keşke bende de bu cesaret olsaydı.
bu
this
bir
a / an
o
that / he / she / it
ben
I
olmak
to be
başarılı
successful
de
too, also (de/da) / even if (concessive particle after conditional) / and (linking clauses)
keşke
if only / I wish
cesaret
courage
girişimci
entrepreneur
Questions & Answers about O başarılı bir girişimci, keşke bende de bu cesaret olsaydı.
Since the lesson is about past regrets, why does olsaydı mean 'I had' instead of 'I had had' in this sentence?
The structure keşke + verb + -sAydI is used for both past regrets and unrealizable present wishes. Here, the speaker is expressing regret about their current lack of courage. It works just like the English 'I wish I had,' which also uses a past tense form to talk about an impossible present reality.
How does bende de ... olsaydı translate to 'I wish I also had'?
In Turkish, to say you have an abstract quality like courage, you often use the locative case (-de or -da, meaning 'at' or 'on') with the verb olmak (to be). Literally, bende bu cesaret olsaydı means 'if only this courage existed on me.'
Why are there two similar syllables in a row in bende de?
The first -de is the locative suffix attached to the pronoun ben, making bende (on me). The second de is the separate particle meaning 'also' or 'too'. Together, bende de translates to 'on me too' or 'I also (have).'
How is the word girişimci (entrepreneur) formed?
It is built from the root verb girmek (to enter). This becomes girişmek (to undertake or attempt), which turns into the noun girişim (initiative or enterprise). Finally, the occupational suffix -ci is added to mean a person who does this, creating girişimci (entrepreneur).
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