Learn Turkish: Hâkim şüpheliyi daha önce yargılamalıydı. - The judge should have tried the suspect earlier.

It combines the verb stem yargıla (to try or judge), the obligation suffix -malı (must or should), and the past tense suffix -ydı (was). Together, the structure -malıydı means someone 'should have' done something, which fits this lesson's focus on unfulfilled past obligations.

Why does şüpheli (suspect) take the -yi ending to become şüpheliyi?

The suffix -yi is the specific accusative case marker. Because the judge was supposed to try a specific, known suspect, that person is the definite direct object of the verb yargılamak. The y acts as a buffer letter between the two vowels.

How is the word şüpheli built?

It is formed from the root noun şüphe, which means doubt or suspicion, plus the suffix -li (with or having). So, a şüpheli is literally a person 'having suspicion' on them.

Why does the word Hâkim have a circumflex (a little hat) over the 'a'?

The circumflex tells you to pronounce the vowel slightly longer than a regular Turkish 'a'. You will often see this mark on loanwords from Arabic or Persian to guide pronunciation, though in casual modern writing many native speakers skip typing it.