Ben tanışmak istiyorum.

I want to meet.

Breakdown of Ben tanışmak istiyorum.

• ben: I
• istemek: to want
• tanışmak: to meet

Questions & Answers about Ben tanışmak istiyorum.

What does Ben mean in this sentence?

Ben is the Turkish pronoun for I. Although Turkish often omits the subject because the verb ending already indicates it, including Ben adds clarity or emphasis.

What is the meaning of tanışmak, and why is it in the infinitive form?

Tanışmak means to meet or to get acquainted. In Turkish, when expressing a desire to perform an action, the main verb remains in its infinitive form. This is why we say tanışmak istiyorum instead of conjugating tanışmak.

How is the desire expressed in the sentence using istiyorum?

Istiyorum is the first person singular form of istemek, which means to want. In this construction, the infinitive tanışmak (to meet) comes directly before the conjugated istiyorum (I want), showing a desire to perform that action.

Why is the subject Ben included even though Turkish is a pro-drop language?

In Turkish, the subject pronoun is often dropped because the verb suffix conveys the subject information. However, speakers sometimes include Ben for emphasis, clarity, or stylistic reasons, especially when the context requires extra clarity.

How would you specify someone you want to meet using a similar sentence structure?

To specify whom you want to meet, you can add a phrase with the dative case or use the postposition ile (with). For example, Ben Ahmet ile tanışmak istiyorum means I want to meet Ahmet.

How does the structure of tanışmak istiyorum compare to the English phrase I want to meet?

In English, we say I want to meet, where to meet is the infinitive form. In Turkish, the structure is similar but the infinitive is marked by the ending -mak rather than the separate word to. Thus, tanışmak istiyorum directly combines the infinitive tanışmak with the conjugated verb istiyorum to express the same meaning.

What does the -mak ending in tanışmak indicate?

The -mak ending is a standard Turkish infinitive marker used for many verbs. It signals that the verb is in its non-conjugated (base) form, which is necessary when it follows an auxiliary verb like istemek to express a desire or intention.