Question 1

How does olmalı work with the adjective zorunlu in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

In this lesson, we are using -malı for logical deduction, meaning 'must be'. Because zorunlu (mandatory) is an adjective, it cannot take the -malı suffix directly. Instead, we use the helper verb olmak (to be) and attach the suffix to it. Therefore, zorunlu olmalı translates to 'must be mandatory'.

Question 2

Why does the sentence use the verb çekmek (to pull/draw) for making photocopies?

Accepted Answer

In Turkish, the standard set phrase for 'making a photocopy' is fotokopi çekmek. This is similar to how Turkish uses çekmek for taking pictures (fotoğraf çekmek). You just have to memorize these words together as a single vocabulary chunk.

Question 3

Why doesn't the infinitive çekmek have any case endings here, like -meyi or -meye?

Accepted Answer

In this sentence, the action of 'making photocopies' (fotokopi çekmek) acts as the grammatical subject. The sentence is basically saying '[Making photocopies] must be mandatory.' When an action acts as the main subject of a sentence, the verb stays in its pure dictionary form (-mak or -mek) without taking any extra case markers.

Question 4

Could zorunlu olmalı also mean 'it should be mandatory' as a suggestion?

Accepted Answer

Yes! The suffix -malı commonly expresses obligation or recommendation ('should' or 'ought to'). Out of context, this sentence could mean 'Making photocopies should be mandatory' as a new rule suggestion. However, because of our current lesson on deductions, it is being used here to mean 'Looking at the facts, I deduce that it must be mandatory.' In real conversations, context makes the intended meaning obvious.

Toplantı için fotokopi çekmek zorunlu olmalı.

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