Breakdown of Bu akşam makarna yapmak istiyorum.
bu
this
yapmak
to do / to make
istemek
to want / to require / to call for
akşam
evening
makarna
pasta
Questions & Answers about Bu akşam makarna yapmak istiyorum.
Why is makarna not in the accusative case (makarnayı)?
Because it is an indefinite, general object here. You are saying 'I want to make pasta' in general, not 'the pasta' (a specific dish you already talked about). In Turkish, general direct objects stay in their dictionary form and usually sit right next to the verb.
Why do we use the dictionary form yapmak instead of conjugating it?
When you have two verbs together like 'want to make', the action you want to do takes the infinitive form (-mak or -mek), and the verb for 'want' (istemek) is conjugated. So 'I want to make' is built as yapmak istiyorum.
In English we say 'want' in the simple present tense. Why does Turkish use the continuous -yor tense (istiyorum)?
In Turkish, verbs expressing current feelings, thoughts, or desires almost always use the present continuous -yor tense. Even though we say 'I want' in English, Turkish uses istiyorum (literally 'I am wanting') for something you want right now or for upcoming plans.
Why does the sentence end with istiyorum rather than yapmak?
Turkish puts the conjugated main verb at the very end of the sentence. Grammatically, 'want' (istemek) is the core verb here. The infinitive verb (yapmak) acts as the object of that want and goes right before it.
Could I say bu gece instead of bu akşam for 'tonight'?
Yes, but there is a slight difference. Bu akşam means 'this evening' and covers the time between late afternoon and going to bed, which is perfect for dinner plans. Bu gece means 'this night' and is usually used for very late at night or sleeping hours.
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