Breakdown of Sınav zor, ama ben çalışıyorum.
olmak
to be
ben
I
ama
but
zor
difficult
sınav
the exam
çalışmak
to study
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Questions & Answers about Sınav zor, ama ben çalışıyorum.
What does the word sınav mean in this sentence?
Sınav means exam. It refers to a test or assessment, a common term you encounter when talking about school or other evaluations.
Why is there no linking verb (such as is) between sınav and zor?
In Turkish, the verb to be is typically omitted in the present tense when describing a state or quality. So instead of saying “The exam is hard,” Turkish simply uses “Sınav zor.”
What does zor mean, and how is it used in this context?
Zor means hard or difficult. In this sentence, it serves as a predicate adjective that describes the exam, indicating that it is challenging.
What is the function of the word ama in the sentence?
Ama is a conjunction that means but. It connects the two parts of the sentence, contrasting the difficulty of the exam with the fact that the speaker is actively studying.
Why is the pronoun ben explicitly used in the second clause even though Turkish verbs show the subject?
Although Turkish verb conjugations indicate the subject, the pronoun ben (meaning I) is added here for clarity or emphasis. It makes it immediately clear who is performing the action.
How is the present continuous tense formed in the verb çalışıyorum?
The verb çalışıyorum is formed from the root çalış- (meaning to work or to study) combined with the present continuous suffix -ıyor and the first-person singular ending -um. This construction expresses an ongoing action, translating to “I am studying” (or “I am working”) in English.
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