Ofiste arkadaşım ve ben tokalaşıyoruz.

My friend and I are shaking hands at the office.

Breakdown of Ofiste arkadaşım ve ben tokalaşıyoruz.

• ben: I
• benim: my
• arkadaş: the friend
• ve: and
• ofis: the office
• tokalaşmak: to shake hands

Questions & Answers about Ofiste arkadaşım ve ben tokalaşıyoruz.

What does ofiste mean and how is it formed?

Ofiste comes from the noun ofis (office), to which the locative suffix -te is attached. This suffix indicates location, so ofiste translates as "in the office."

What does arkadaşım mean and how is it constructed?

The word arkadaş means "friend." By adding the possessive suffix -ım, it becomes arkadaşım, which means "my friend."

How is the verb tokalaşıyoruz constructed, and what does it mean?

Tokalaşıyoruz is formed from the root tokalaşmak (to shake hands) with the ending -yoruz, which conveys first-person plural in the present continuous (or general present) tense. Thus, it means "we are shaking hands."

Why does the sentence begin with ofiste instead of following a strict subject–verb–object order as in English?

In Turkish, adverbial phrases such as locations often precede the subject and verb to set the scene. Beginning with ofiste ("in the office") emphasizes where the action takes place, which is a common stylistic choice in Turkish sentence structure.

Why is the subject explicitly stated as arkadaşım ve ben when the verb ending already indicates the "we" form?

Although Turkish verb conjugations inherently show subject information (with -yoruz meaning "we"), explicitly stating arkadaşım ve ben ("my friend and I") adds clarity and emphasis regarding who is involved in the action. This explicit mention can be useful for avoiding ambiguity and for stylistic reasons.