Ben nefes alıyorum.

I

Breakdown of Ben nefes alıyorum.

• nefes: the breath

Questions & Answers about Ben nefes alıyorum.

Why is the pronoun Ben included in the sentence even though Turkish often omits subject pronouns?

In Turkish, the verb ending already indicates the subject, so dropping the pronoun is common. However, including Ben (“I”) adds clarity and emphasis, which is especially helpful for learners.

What does the literal construction of nefes alıyorum mean?

The word nefes means breath, and alıyorum comes from almak ("to take") conjugated in the first-person present continuous form. Literally, it means "I take breath," which we understand as "I am breathing."

How is the present continuous tense formed in the verb alıyorum?

The verb alıyorum is built from the root al-, the continuous marker -yor-, and the first-person singular ending -um. This structure signals an ongoing action, corresponding to the English "I am taking"—or, in this context, "I am breathing."

Can the subject Ben be omitted in everyday Turkish, and what effect does that have?

Yes, you can drop Ben because the personal ending -um already indicates that the subject is "I." Omitting it doesn’t change the meaning; including it can simply add emphasis or clarity, especially for those still learning the language.

Why is the verb almak used in this context instead of a direct equivalent of “to breathe”?

Turkish expresses "to breathe" as nefes almak—literally “to take breath”—rather than using a single verb that directly translates to “breathe.” This is a fixed, common expression in Turkish that conveys the same meaning.