Tutunarak

Tutunarak is a Turkish adverbial participle formed from the verb tutunmak, meaning to hold on or to cling. The form indicates the manner in which the action of the main verb is performed, roughly translated as “by holding on” or “holding on.” In Turkish, adverbial participles are created with the suffix -arak or -erek, attached to the verb stem. Because Turkish vowel harmony applies, tutunarak is used here since the stem ends in a back vowel.

Etymology and grammar: The verb tutunmak combines the root tutun- with the infinitive mak, and the adverbial participle is built by adding -arak to the stem, yielding tutunarak. The choice between -arak and -erek is determined by vowel harmony, so -arak is used after back vowels. This form functions as an adverbial modifier, describing how the action of the main clause is carried out.

Usage: Tutunarak is commonly used in narrative and descriptive sentences to convey the manner of action, either in a physical sense or in a figurative sense (such as clinging to a plan or idea). It typically precedes the main verb in the sentence structure, or follows a control element, depending on emphasis. Example sentences include: Birinin elini tutunarak yürüdü. Merdiven korkuluklarına tutunarak yürüdü. These illustrate walking while holding onto something, or moving forward by gripping a support.

Related notes: Tutunarak is one of several Turkish -arak/-erek adverbial participles used to express concurrent or mannered actions. It is common in written and spoken Turkish, particularly in descriptive narration or instructional contexts. See also Turkish grammar, adverbial participles, and vowel harmony.