Learn Hardcore Turkish: Koşu yaparken fazla terlemek bazen rahatsız edici olabilir. - Excessive sweating while running can sometimes be uncomfortable.

Koşu yaparken literally translates as “while running.” It is formed by taking the noun koşu (“running”) and adding yaparken, which is derived from the verb yapmak (“to do”) with the -ken suffix. This suffix indicates that an action is happening simultaneously with another, so the phrase sets a temporal context—“while doing running” or, more naturally, “while running.”

Why is the verb terlemek used as the subject in this sentence, and what does that tell us grammatically?

In Turkish, the bare infinitive form of a verb (like terlemek, meaning “to sweat”) can function as a noun. In this sentence, terlemek is not describing a specific instance but rather the general act or phenomenon of sweating. Thus, it serves as the subject of the clause fazla terlemek bazen rahatsız edici olabilir—“sweating too much can sometimes be disturbing.”

What role does the word fazla play in this sentence?

Fazla means “excessively” or “too much” and functions as an adverb modifying terlemek. It emphasizes that the sweating being described isn’t just ordinary sweating—it is an excessive amount. This qualifier is key to understanding that it’s the overabundance of sweat which may lead to an unpleasant outcome.

How does bazen contribute to the meaning of the sentence?

Bazen translates to “sometimes.” It adds a nuance of frequency, indicating that the condition described does not occur all the time. In other words, while sweating excessively can be disturbing, it only happens on some occasions, not as a constant occurrence.

What does the phrase rahatsız edici olabilir imply about the situation described?

Rahatsız edici means “disturbing” or “unpleasant,” and olabilir means “can be” or “might be.” Together, the phrase implies that excessive sweating during running is not inherently problematic but has the potential to be disturbing under certain circumstances. It suggests possibility rather than certainty.

Why is olabilir placed at the end of the sentence?

Turkish follows a subject-object-verb (SOV) word order typical of many Turkic languages. This means that the main verb or predicate—here, olabilir (“can be”)—naturally comes at the end of the sentence. This placement is standard and helps emphasize the potential or outcome described in the sentence.