Learn Hardcore Turkish: Ben şu anda yeni bir proje üzerinde çalışmaktayım, bu proje benim için çok önemli. - I am currently working on a new project; this project is very important to me.

The form çalışmaktayım is a more formal, literary variant of the present continuous tense. While çalışıyorum is common in everyday conversation to express "I am working," çalışmaktayım is formed by taking the infinitive çalışmak and adding the compound suffix -tayım. This structure not only conveys the ongoing nature of the action but also adds a level of emphasis or formality to the statement.

What does şu anda mean, and how does it function within the sentence?

Şu anda translates to "right now" or "currently." It functions as an adverbial phrase that specifies the timing of the action, clearly indicating that the work is taking place at this very moment.

How does the preposition üzerinde work in the context of this sentence?

Üzerinde means "on" or "upon," and it is used to indicate the object of the work. In this sentence, it tells us that the speaker is working on a new project. This prepositional phrase is essential for linking the action to its object.

What is the role of benim için in the sentence?

Benim için translates to "for me." It serves to express that the project holds personal significance to the speaker. By using this phrase, the sentence emphasizes that the project is very important on a personal level—it is not just any project, but one that matters deeply to the speaker.

Why is the subject Ben explicitly stated at the beginning of the sentence, despite Turkish being a pro-drop language?

Although Turkish often drops subject pronouns because verb conjugations already indicate the subject, explicitly stating Ben (meaning "I") adds clarity and emphasis. In this sentence, including Ben ensures that the listener immediately understands who is performing the action and underscores the personal involvement of the speaker in the ongoing project.