Learn Turkish: Ekrana basmadım, butona bastım! - I didn't press the screen, I pressed the button!

In Turkish, the most emphasized information goes immediately before the verb. Here, you are contrasting what you pressed. By placing ekrana and butona directly in that pre-verbal spotlight, you emphasize that the screen and the button are the most important details in the sentence.

Why do we use the dative case (ekrana, butona) instead of the accusative case (ekranı, butonu)?

The verb basmak (to press) requires the dative case (-(y)a / -(y)e). While English uses a direct object (you press "the button"), Turkish logic thinks of it as applying physical pressure onto a surface. So, you are literally saying you pressed onto the screen (ekran-a) and onto the button (buton-a).

If I wanted to include the word ben (I), where would it go without ruining the focus?

It would go at the very beginning: Ben ekrana basmadım... This safely leaves ekrana in the pre-verbal focus spot. If you put ben right before the verb (Ekrana ben basmadım), the focus shifts to the person, meaning "I wasn't the one who pressed the screen!" Because the verbs already end in -m (I) to show who did it, dropping ben entirely is the most natural choice here.

Why isn't there a word for "but" (like ama) connecting the two halves of the sentence?