Ben köprüden geçiyorum.

I am passing the bridge.

Breakdown of Ben köprüden geçiyorum.

• ben: I
• köprü: the bridge
• geçmek: to pass

Questions & Answers about Ben köprüden geçiyorum.

Why is the personal pronoun Ben included in this sentence?

Although Turkish verb conjugations already indicate the subject, Ben (meaning "I") is often added for emphasis, clarity, or stylistic reasons. In everyday speech, the subject can be omitted because the verb ending makes it clear who is performing the action.

What tense is shown in the verb geçiyorum, and how is it formed?

The verb geçiyorum is in the present continuous tense. It is constructed by taking the verb root geç- (meaning "to cross" or "to pass"), adding the continuous marker -iyor (with vowel harmony), and finally attaching the first-person singular ending -um. This combination indicates that the action is happening right now, i.e., "I am crossing".

What role does the suffix -den play in köprüden?

The suffix -den attaches to the noun köprü (meaning "bridge") to form the ablative case. In this context, it indicates the source or the route of movement. Although there is no direct equivalent in English, here it conveys the idea of moving "across" or "from" the bridge, which is necessary to express the nuance of the motion in Turkish.

How is the word order in this sentence structured compared to English?

Turkish typically follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) pattern. In this sentence, because there is no direct object, the order is Subject (Ben) + Locative Phrase (köprüden) + Verb (geçiyorum). In contrast, English uses a Subject-Verb-Object order, which is why Turkish sentences often place the verb at the end.

Is it acceptable to drop the pronoun Ben in this sentence, and if so, why?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to omit Ben because Turkish is a pro-drop language. The verb ending -um in geçiyorum already indicates first-person singular, making the subject explicit without needing the pronoun unless added for emphasis or clarity.