Learn Hardcore Turkish: Tren gelince hep çok mutlu oluyorum. - When the train arrives, I always become very happy.

The suffix -ince is a temporal clause marker that translates to "when" in English. In gelince, it attaches to the verb stem gel- (to come) to indicate that the action of the main clause occurs as soon as the train comes.

What is the role of hep in this sentence, and why is it placed before çok mutlu oluyorum?

Hep means "always" in Turkish. It emphasizes that the speaker regularly or habitually becomes very happy when the train arrives. Its placement before çok mutlu oluyorum reinforces the continuous, recurring nature of the emotion.

Why is the present continuous tense oluyorum used here instead of a simple present tense form?

Turkish often uses the present continuous tense to express habitual or recurring actions and states. In this sentence, oluyorum (I become/am becoming) indicates that the speaker consistently undergoes the emotional change of becoming very happy each time the train comes.

Can gelince be replaced with geldiğinde, and what is the difference between these two forms?

Yes, both gelince and geldiğinde can be used to mean "when [it] comes." Gelince is a more concise and colloquial form, while geldiğinde sounds slightly more formal and explicitly marks the point when the arrival is complete. The choice between them can depend on context or personal preference.

Is the word order in this sentence typical for Turkish, and why does the time clause appear at the beginning?

Absolutely. In Turkish, it is common to start a sentence with an adverbial or time clause to set the context. Beginning with Tren gelince (when the train comes) immediately informs the listener of the condition under which the main clause—that the speaker becomes very happy—occurs. This structure neatly establishes the cause-and-effect relationship at the outset.