Ben ellerimi yıkıyorum.

I am washing my hands.

Breakdown of Ben ellerimi yıkıyorum.

• ben: I
• benim: my
• el: the hand
• yıkamak: to wash

Questions & Answers about Ben ellerimi yıkıyorum.

What is the function of the subject pronoun Ben in this sentence, and is it always necessary to include it?

Ben means "I" and explicitly states the subject. In Turkish, the verb suffixes already indicate the subject (in this case, yıkıyorum shows first person singular), so the pronoun is often omitted unless you want to add emphasis or clarify the subject.

How is the word ellerimi built, and what does each part represent?

The word ellerimi is constructed from several parts: • The root el means "hand." • The plural suffix -ler turns it into eller, meaning "hands." • The possessive suffix -im indicates "my," so ellerim means "my hands." • Finally, the accusative case marker -i is added to show that the object is definite. Together, ellerimi literally means "my (definite) hands."

Why is the accusative marker used at the end of ellerimi, and when is it required in Turkish?

In Turkish, when a direct object is definite or specific, it receives an accusative case marker. In ellerimi, the -i signals that the speaker is referring to their specific hands rather than any hands in general. This marker is important for clarity, especially when the object is explicit.

How is the verb yıkıyorum formed, and what tense does it express?

The verb yıkıyorum comes from the root verb yıkamak ("to wash"). It is formed by taking the stem yıka-, adding the present continuous marker -yor, and then the first person singular ending -um. This form expresses an ongoing action, meaning "I am washing" or simply "I wash" in a habitual sense.

What is the typical word order in this sentence, and how does it differ from English?

Turkish generally follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order. In the sentence Ben ellerimi yıkıyorum, Ben (subject) comes first, followed by ellerimi (object), and finally yıkıyorum (verb). This contrasts with English, which follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order.

Can the subject pronoun be omitted in this sentence, and what effect does that have?

Yes, the subject pronoun can be omitted because the verb form yıkıyorum already indicates that the subject is first person singular. Removing Ben would still leave a grammatically complete sentence—ellerimi yıkıyorum—with the same meaning. Including Ben adds emphasis or clarity, especially in contexts where the subject might otherwise be ambiguous.