Breakdown of Mükemmel bir aldatmaca kurguladığını sanıyordu, değil mi?
bir
a / an
sanmak
to suppose, to assume
mükemmel
perfect
değil mi
isn't it / right (tag question)
Questions & Answers about Mükemmel bir aldatmaca kurguladığını sanıyordu, değil mi?
Why does kurguladığını end with the accusative case marker?
Because it acts as the direct object of the verb sanmak (to think/suppose). The object of his thought is the entire clause mükemmel bir aldatmaca kurguladığını (that he had fabricated a perfect deception). It breaks down as kurgula-dık (the fact that he fabricated) + -ı (his) + -n- (buffer) + -ı (accusative).
English translates sanıyordu as "thought" (simple past). Why does Turkish use the past continuous (-ıyordu) here?
In Turkish, verbs expressing mental states or beliefs (like sanmak 'to suppose', bilmek 'to know', inanmak 'to believe') frequently use the past continuous to describe a state of mind that was ongoing at a point in the past. It translates closely to the continuous feeling of "he was under the impression."
Could we use düşünüyordu instead of sanıyordu in this sentence?
You could, but sanıyordu is much better suited to the context. Sanmak often implies an assumption or a false belief—"he mistakenly thought." This fits perfectly with a sentence pointing out that his "perfect deception" actually failed, whereas düşünmek is just a neutral "to think."
Why is bir placed after mükemmel rather than at the very beginning of the phrase?