-mak istemek — expression of the desire to perform an action

-mak istemek is used to form the construction “to want to do something”.

Formula:

verb in the -mak / -mek form + istemek (to want) + personal tense ending

or alternatively:

verb + -mak/-mek (infinitive) + iste- (stem of the verb “to want”) + tense and person suffix

The choice between -mak and -mek depends on the last vowel in the verb stem:

Examples:

1. gelmek istiyorum — I want to come
   → gel- (root) + -mek (inf.) + iste- + yor (present continuous tense) + -um (I)
2. yazmak istemiyorsun — you do not want to write
   → yaz- + -mak + isteme- (negation) + yor + -sun

Example:
Seninle konuşmak istiyorum. – I want to talk with you.
Derya parka gitmek istemiyor – Derya does not want to go to the park.
Biz yarın piknik yapmak istiyoruz. — We want to have a picnic tomorrow.
İstanbul’da nerede oturmak istiyorsunuz? — Where do you want to live in Istanbul?