Hi Bliss,
I’m so glad that my questions and Erdinç's lessons are useful for you too. I also feel better knowing that other people have the same problems as I do. I agree that Erdinç's suggestions are exellent. They make learning much easier and much more pleasant. Did you see the sites he recomended us? I find

http://www.princeton.edu/~turkish/practice/tlepss.html

very interesting and useful. I recommend you to test yourself (small word “sinav”, under the picture), it’s not so difficult, and you will be very proud when get high score and realise how much you already know. I would like if you let me know did you succes. And I have one question for you: is English your native language?

Merhaba, Erdinç,
I have no more words to thank you enough.
Yes, now I understand clearly! I knew about The Accusative, it’s suffixes and it’s using With nouns (we have 7 cases in my language, including accusative), but I didn’t know that it can be used with verbs too, this is something absolutely new for me. We use cases only for nouns and pronouns, never with verbs.
About perfect tenses: thanks, “sevdim” is enough for me at this moment!
Erdinç, you are really a REAL teacher! You don’t only give us lessons, but, which is much more important, teach us how to learn, and I appreciate this very much. Yes, I know that studying suffixes isnt a good way to go, but I thought that I couldn’t understand a word if I can’t recognize it’s suffix. Well, now it’s too late, I’ve lost lots of time studying suffixes, but now I will accept your advice and try with simple understanding. I already read anything I can find.
Well, since I see that your answers to my questions are useful for the others too, may I ask you to tell me something about The Ablative (-dan/-den, -tan/-ten suffixes), because this is the case we don’t have in our language. I think that we use The Genitive in situations when in Turkish Ablative is using (I’m not sure until you explain to me function of Ablative).
And my last question for now: if I say “Limon agaci alabilirim nerede?” did I ask where I can buy a lemon tree? (This is what I have to do when I go to Antalya).
Forgive me if I ask too much, but I have real confusion in my head with three different languages mixed in it
Be sure that every your suggestion helps and I’m grateful for this.
Kendine iyi bak
Slavica

Merhaba, Erdinç, thanks a lot!
I'm so happy I can ignore "-dik" suffix at this moment and continue learning with something easier.
Pages you mentioned are relly great, very interesting and I started to use them with pleasure.
Since my translations were "very good", as you said, does it mean that there is hope for me to speak Turkish one day?
But, I have one more question. In this sentence: "Seni daha çok görebilmeyi isterim", what's "meyi" in word "görebilmeyi"? . And also "yi" in "olmayı" (Mutlu olmayı kim istemez?).
I suppose that answer is very simple, but it confused me when I was translating.
And just one more question. Did I understand well that in Turkish we use one tense for both Eglish present perfect and past perfect tenses? (sevdim = I loved = I have loved) If so, that's much easier for me, because in my native language is the same situation. I always had problem what past tense to use in Engish.
Once again, thanks for your help and support.
Kendine iyi bak.
Slavica

Hi Erdinc,
I’m, unfortunately, far away from advanced learner. So thanks for detailed explanation. Now I completely understand “–ebil/-abil“ suffix. But ”diğ” is still too complicated for me. I must work more on it using links you noticed.
SPECIAL thanks for your support in the moment when I needed it mostly!
I’ve just lost any hope that I could speak Turkish ever.
Now you gave me this hope again. You confirmed that I was on the right way.
Of course, I accept your advise to read as much as I can, I already do the same. I’m specially interested in poetry, although I’m not able to read it without translation.(Don’t laugh – I started with popular Turkish songs, so I can thank Tarkan for my first steps in learning Turkish!) Short stories would be nice, where I can find it. Where I can find texts you worked for us, turkish learners?
I agree with you that the soul of a language lies in the way how words come together, but, unfortunately, “putting the words together” is my biggest problem. I’ve become tired of disapointing any time when can’t underestand simple text, although I knew meaning of every word separately and almost all grammar rules. But I hope that this is the matter of practice and that I will overcome this by more reading and learning.
As for pronunciation, this is absolutely not problem for me, because in my native laguage rules of reading are the same as in Turkish - we read as written.
I must tell you that I had the similar situation with Russian as you had with English: I was lerning it in school, after that I was reading alot – poetry, novels, texts about history – and I was sure that I perfectly know Russian. However, when I came to situation to speak, I realized that I can’t! I couldn’t compose a simplest sentence! Fortunately, this blockade didn’t last long, I started to speak the way I knew, without any complexes and soon I had no more problems. My speaking, as you said, sometimes was pretty funny, but it didn’t bother me. I really hope that it will happen with my Turkish also. We’ll see in August, when I go to my vacation to Turkey.
I suppose that now I should try to translate sentences you quoted. It wil be double test for me: knowledge of Turkish and English. So…

1. Seni sevdiğim kadar kimseyi sevmedim.
It’s easy, because it’s part of poem you translated for me: I didn’t love anybody as much as I loved you (or: I haven’t love anybody as much as I have loved you – I’m not sure how to tell this on English – on my language this is the same)
2. Seni daha çok görebilmeyi isterim.
I don’t want to see you any more (I know it’s wrong, but I couldn’ think anything better)
3. Mutlu olmayı kim istemez?
(HELP, I don’t understand the meaning of the sentence, although I know the meaning of every word separately: mutlu – happy, olmak-to become, kim-who, istemek-to want/wish)
Maybe: Who wants to become happy?
4. Daha çok Türkçe öğrenmek istiyorum.
I want to learn Turkish more.
5. Arkadaşlarımla konuşabilmek istiyorum.
I want to be able to speak with my friends. (or: I would like if I could talk with my friends)
6. Onların söylediklerini anlayabilmek istiyorum.
I would like if I could understand their talking (? – I’m pretty sure that this is wrong)

Please don’t laugh if I wrote some stupidity!!!!!
One day I will speak Turkish excelent,but now I’m just a poor beginner.

Kendine iyi bak – hoşÃ§akal!
Slavica

Thanks to both of you: Bliss for her wish to help, erdinc for detailed explanation. Although I already knew most of what you wrote – about infinitive, imperative, simple present tense, simple past tense – it’s good to have all at one place. I also know about wowel harmony, possessive and personal suffixes, future tense, actually, I’m not bad in grammar, but I couldn’t find anywhere explanation for suffixe “diğ”. I must admit that it since look pretty difficult for me. Maybe the reason is that English is also not my native language. It’s not easy to learn some language through another foreign language
So, how could you translate “sevdiğim kadar”?
Or “seni görebildiğim”?
Which remids me: what's meaning of suffix “bil”?
For example “bakabilir miyim?” means “may I look?”, right? What kind of construction is it?
Erdinc, as a professional teacher you must also know psihology of learning, so can you tell me, please, how to learn to use practical my theoretical knowledge of grammar, this is my biggest problem. Do you think it will come spontaneous when I start to talk with people, instead of learning from books?
Thanks again!

Can someone tell me something about using of “diğ” suffix.
For example,what's difference between
1. sevdiğim
2. sevdim
3. severim

Thanks, your explanation is much better and more realistic then text taken from “TURKEY TRAVEL PLANNER”
Actually, I personally find that text insulting, equally for western women and turkish men, that's the reason I posted it.
I'm also from traditional society, and I have understanding for manners like that, but I can imagine how can react classic western woman reading advice like "don't smile readily at men you don't know, even when conducting business (registering at a hotel, taking a taxi ride, etc)".
O.k. Next time I will think twice before I smile!
It was a joke, of course – I already said that I didn't have any unpleasantness being in Turkey, although I smiled a lot, so it means that I probably found balance between my natural manners and local customs.
Anyway, thanks again for your explanation, not only because of me, but because western-western women, planing to travel to Turkey

THERE ARE A FEW ANSWERS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT WOMEN TRAVELER IN TURKEY, TAKEN FROM THE SITE “TURKEY TRAVEL PLANNER”
(IF ANYBODY WANTS TO READ WHOLE TEXT, THE ADDRESS IS:
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/TravelDetails/WomenTravelers/index.html )


“What can I do to avoid occasional unpleasantness?

As in other Mediterranean countries with similar cultures, you should observe local customs.
………

In Turkey, as in many other countries, social encounters between men and women who are not relatives or close friends are conducted much more formally than they might be in Europe or--especially--Australia, Canada, or the USA. Also, this formality is maintained for a much longer time.

How can I be 'more formal'?

Dress neatly and act reserved. Be pleasant, but don't smile readily at men you don't know, even when conducting business (registering at a hotel, taking a taxi ride, etc). Be correct and formal, even on the third and fourth encounter. If a man responds by being overly friendly, you should be overly formal. Keep control of the situation, keep it on your terms.

Why can't I just be the way I normally am? Why do I have to do things differently?

Unfortunately, European and American movies, TV programs, magazines, books--and especially fantasy pornography--often portray 'Western' women as 'loose,' if not downright promiscuous: they go out to clubs and bars on their own, they talk to men to whom they have not been introduced, they even sleep with men they've known for only a short time and have no intention of marrying.

It's true of some Western women, so a Turkish man may assume that it's true of any particular woman--you, for example. Like any Western man, if he's attracted to you he may give it a try and see what happens.

Many Western women smile readily, at anyone. It's looked upon as good manners to smile and be cheerful. Turkish women, who act more formal, don't usually smile at an unfamiliar man until they feel assured that the smile won't be misinterpreted as a come-on. Thus, when a Turkish woman smiles at a man, it means she is willing to be more friendly. It's a calculated escalation of interest, not just part of a cheerful attitude.

So if you smile at a Turkish man just to be pleasant, he might interpret it to mean that you're interested in being even more friendly……”

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR COMMENTS ON THIS TEXT, ESPECIALLY FROM TURKISH MEN. IS IT THE TRUTH? I WOULDN’T SAY!

I SPENT TEN DAYS IN TURKEY LAST SUMMER, I WAS SMILING ALL THE TIME AND I DIDN’T HAVE ANY UNPLEASANTNESS. BUT IF I READ THIS TEXT BEFOR MY TRAVELLING, I MAYBE WOULDN’T GO. WHY SHOULD I GO TO THE COUNTRY WHERE I CAN’T SMILE!?

WELL, WHAT THE OTHERS THINK?
IS A BIG, FRIENDLY SMILE SO DANGEROUS FOR WOMAN IN TURKEY?

Çok teşekkür ederim, Erdinc
Your translation is exellent, very professional, and very poetic too. I like it very much, and I’m so grateful because, thanking you, now I can FEEL the soul of the poem.
Isn’t it really beautiful poem, so romantic and full of emotions?
Does anybody have some poems like this one? Will you write it for me?
Thanks again, Erdinc.
And keep on translating.
I’m sure that you are one of the best translators around!
P.S. I read in your profile that you are here to help others - well you helped me much!

WELL, I SPEAK TURKISH VERY BAD, BUT I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR FRIEND MISSES YOU AND LOVES YOU VERY MUCH!
LUCKY YOU, KATE!

Could someone, please, translate for me this beautiful poem? I can undrestand it, but not very well (the suffixe "digim" makes me a problem).
This is very important for me... I want to send poem to a friend in Turkey, but first I have to understand it completely.

SENI SEVDIĞIM KADAR

Güneş yine tepemde
sen artık bir serapsın
yanlızlığın çölünde.
ve biliyorum ki;
Hiç kimseyi özlemedim,
seni özlediğim kadar...

Boğaz hala masmavi.
sen artık bir martı yuvasız
göklerde.
ve biliyorum ki;
Hiç kimseyi beklemedim,
seni beklediğim kadar...

Yol belgeselleri çekmiyorum,
Yollar sensiz ve sevisiz
güzellikler şehrinde.
ve biliyorum ki;
Hiç kimseyi öpmedim,
seni öptüğüm kadar.

Kuşlar ağaçlara küstü
ay bulutların ardında,
deniz fenerin çakmiyor artık.
Ve sen de biliyorsun ki;
hiç kimseyi sevmedim,
seni sevdiğim kadar...

Thanks in advance!