Breakdown of Hepsi sır saklamalıymış ve birbirine yemin etmeliymiş.
ve
and
birbiri
each other / one another
sır
secret
saklamak
to hide / to keep
hepsi
all of them
yemin etmek
to swear / to take an oath
Questions & Answers about Hepsi sır saklamalıymış ve birbirine yemin etmeliymiş.
How does the suffix -malıymış change the meaning compared to just -malı?
The suffix -malı means must or should, showing obligation. Adding the inferential suffix -mış or -miş (becoming -malıymış or -meliymiş) adds a layer of hearsay or inference. It means supposedly they must or I heard that they have to. In this sentence, the speaker is reporting a rule or obligation they learned from someone else.
Why is there no plural suffix on saklamalıymış or etmeliymiş if the English translation uses they?
In Turkish, when the subject word already carries a plural meaning, like hepsi (all of them), adding the plural suffix -lar or -ler to the verb is optional. Leaving it off is very common and sounds more natural in this context.
Why does birbiri (each other) take the dative suffix -e here?
The verb yemin etmek (to swear or take an oath) directs the action toward someone. Because you swear to someone, Turkish requires the dative case to show direction. With the buffer letter -n-, birbiri becomes birbirine (to each other).
Why is sır (secret) singular when the translation says secrets?
When talking about a general, indefinite category of things rather than specific items, Turkish uses the singular form. Sır saklamak functions as a general concept meaning to keep secrets. Because these are not specific, known secrets, the plural suffix -lar is not used.
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