Breakdown of O göstermelik hediyelere asla aldanmam, bana doğruyu söyleyin.
o
that / he / she / it
ben
I
söylemek
to say, to sing
hediye
gift
Questions & Answers about O göstermelik hediyelere asla aldanmam, bana doğruyu söyleyin.
How does the word göstermelik get its meaning of 'token' or 'for show'?
It comes from the verb göstermek (to show). By adding the verbal noun suffix -me (the act of showing) and the suffix -lik (used to indicate purpose or suitability), we get göstermelik. Literally, it means 'for the purpose of showing,' which translates naturally to 'token,' 'ostensible,' or 'just for show.'
Why does aldanmam take the dative case (hediyelere) when the English translation says 'fooled by'?
The verb aldanmak means 'to be fooled,' 'to be deceived,' or 'to fall for.' In Turkish, the grammatical logic is that you fall 'to' or 'towards' a trick, so it strictly takes the dative case (-e/-a). That is why 'those gifts' takes the dative suffix: o hediyelere.
Is aldanmak related to the verb aldatmak (to deceive/cheat)?
Yes! Aldanmak is the base, intransitive verb meaning 'to be deceived.' Aldatmak is its causative form, meaning 'to deceive [someone].' If you wanted to rephrase this sentence using the causative, you would make the gifts the subject and use the accusative case for 'me': O hediyeler beni aldatmaz (Those gifts won't deceive me).
Why does doğru have the -yu ending in doğruyu söyleyin?