The “-se/sa” suffix can be interpreted both as “if” and “if only/would that”.

It takes the personal suffixes of 2nd type

THE SUFFIXES
-sem -sam
-sen -san
-se -sa
-sek -sak
-seniz -sanız
-seler, -lerse -salar, -larsa

and with the past tense (was/were ( “idi”))

THE SUFFIXES
-seydim -saydım
-seydin -saydın
-seydi -saydı
-seydik -saydık
-seydiniz -saydınız
-seydiler, -selerdi -saydılar, -salardı

It doesn’t tell when the event happened. So it doesn’t have nothing with the verb tenses.
In the next file, we’ll use “ise”, the conjugation of the archaic “imek” verb in conditional mood. Then we’ll
study it with the verb tenses.

As a historical information for those who are interested:

Professor Zeynep Korkmaz also states that this suffix used to

be –ser/sar many centuries ago. “r” has dropped within centuries.
gelmek
to come

(Keşke) sen de bizimle gelsen.

If only/Would that you came with us, too.
(Keşke) sen de bizimle gelseydin.
If only/Would that you had come with us, too. “keşke” means “If only”, too.
But it’s optional while the
Bizimle gelsen akşama kadar takılırız. –se/sa suffixes are
We would hang out till the evening if you come with us. obviously needed.
Bizimle gelseydin akşama kadar takılırdık.
Bizimle gelsen akşama kadar takılırdık. “keşke” doesn’t have any
We would hang out till the evening if you had come with us. influence on the meaning of the
sentence.

you can just express your wish

more strongly by using
uyumak “keşke”.
to sleep

(Keşke) sabaha kadar deliksiz uyusam.

If only/Would that I slept soundly till the morning.
(Keşke) dün gece geç uyumasaydım.
If only/Would that I hadn’t slept/hadn’t gone to the bed earlier last night.

Günde altı saat uyusam bana yetiyor.

It is enough for me if I sleep for six hours a day.
Biraz daha uyusaydım otobüsü kaçıracaktım.
Biraz daha uyusam otobüsü kaçıracaktım.
I would be late for the bus if I had slept some more.

çekmek
1to pull, 2to attract, 3to withdraw, 4to suffer, to stand 5to take (photo, video, film), 6..7..8..

(Keşke) bir fotoğraf daha çeksek.

If only/Would that we took one more photo.
(Keşke) parayı dün çekseydik, bankamatik bozulmuş.
If only/Would that we had withdrawn the money yesterday, the ATM is out of service.
 -se de/-sa da even though, even if, though
-se bile/-sa bile

olmak ameliyat olmak

to be to undergo a surgery

Dedem ameliyat olsa da iyileşemeyebilirmiş.

Dedem ameliyat olsa bile iyileşemeyebilirmiş.
They say my grandfather mayn’t get better even if he undergoes a surgery.

evlenmek
to get married

Bazı alışkanlıklarınız evlenseniz de değişmeyecek.

Bazı alışkanlıklarınız evlenseniz bile değişmeyecek.
Some of your habits won’t change even though you’ll get married.

<VERME, DÜNYALARI ALSAN DA BU CENNET VATANI>

from our Independence March (“İstiklâl Marşı”)
almak
1to take, 2to buy, 3to receive

>Dünyaları alsan da bu cennet vatanı verme.

>Dünyaları alsan bile bu cennet vatanı verme.
Don’t give out this paradisiacal land even though you take worlds.
 -se de/-sa da x2 no matter whether … or …
although both … and …

etmek kabul etmek

to make to accept

Türkler, kabul etseler de etmeseler de Orta Doğulu veya Avrupalı değiller.

It’s the fact that Turks aren’t Middle Easterns nor Europeans no matter they accept it or not.

koşmakiçmek
to run to drink

Koşsam da çay içsem de faydası olmadı, hâlâ üşüyorum.

It didn’t work although I ran and also drank tea, I still feel cold.

kullanmak kullanılmak
to use -passive mood- to be used

Kullanılsa da kullanılmasa da bu saati saklayacağım çünkü o bana annemle babamdan hatıra.

I’ll keep this watch no matter it’ll be used or not, because it’s a memory of my parents for me.
 -se/sa + present simple to be able to do it but not want now
-se/sa + present past to have been able to do it but not want then

aramak this is in informal language.

1to look for, to seek, 2to call, to phone
and it’s a bit selfish expression
Arasam ararım fakat onunla konuşmak istemiyorum. because you express
I can actually call but I don’t want to talk to her. a self-confidence and also add
that it’s intentional that you
Arasam arardım fakat onunla konuşmak istemiyorum. are not doing it.
I could actually call but I don’t want to talk to her.

vermek kilo vermek

to give to lose weight

Aslında kilo versen verirsin ama hiç spor yapmıyorsun.

You are able to lose weight indeed but you are never playing sports.

Aslında kilo versen verirdin ama hiç spor yapmadın.

You were able to lose weight indeed but you have never played sports.