Ben otobüse geç kalıyorum.

I am late for the bus.

Breakdown of Ben otobüse geç kalıyorum.

• ben: I
• otobüs: the bus
• geç kalmak: to be late

Questions & Answers about Ben otobüse geç kalıyorum.

What does otobüse mean in this sentence?

Otobüse is the dative form of otobüs (bus). The -e suffix indicates direction or target, so in context, it means "to the bus" (implying that the bus is the point of reference for being late).

Why is the subject Ben included even though the verb already shows who is acting?

In Turkish, the verb conjugation (here, kalıyorum indicating "I") already implies the subject. However, including Ben ("I") can add emphasis or clarity, especially when contrasting with others or highlighting personal responsibility.

What tense or aspect does the form geç kalıyorum express?

The -yor suffix in kalıyorum indicates the present continuous tense or a progressive aspect. Thus, geç kalıyorum conveys "I am being late" or more naturally "I am late," referring to a current or habitual state.

Why is the expression geç kalıyorum used instead of a verb equivalent to "to be late"?

Turkish uses the verb kalmak (meaning "to remain" or "to stay") combined with geç ("late") to form an idiomatic expression. Rather than employing a separate "to be" verb as in English, Turkish directly conjugates kalmak to indicate the state of being late, resulting in geç kalıyorum.

Does this sentence follow the typical Turkish word order?

Yes, it does. Turkish generally follows a Subject–Object–Verb (SOV) order. Here, Ben is the subject, otobüse functions as the object (with a case marker), and geç kalıyorum serves as the verb phrase, perfectly fitting the SOV pattern.