Questions & Answers about Avukat bu davayı açmalıydı.
How is "should have filed" formed in açmalıydı?
It uses the verb root aç + the obligation suffix -malı (should/must) + the buffer letter -y- + the past tense suffix -dı. In Turkish, combining -malı with a past tense suffix creates an unfulfilled past obligation. It tells us that the lawyer should have filed the lawsuit, but didn't.
Why is the verb açmak (to open) used for "filed"?
In Turkish, the standard phrase for "filing a lawsuit" or "suing someone" is dava açmak (literally, "to open a lawsuit").
Why does dava have the -yı ending in davayı?
The suffix -ı is the accusative case marker, which is required for specific direct objects. Because the word bu (this) makes the lawsuit specific, it needs the accusative case ending. The -y- is just a buffer letter to separate the two vowels.