Ben çok çalıştım ve sınavı başardım.

I worked hard and succeeded on the exam.

Breakdown of Ben çok çalıştım ve sınavı başardım.

• ben: I
• ve: and
• çalışmak: to work
• sınav: the exam
• başarmak: to succeed

Questions & Answers about Ben çok çalıştım ve sınavı başardım.

Why is the subject pronoun Ben included, even though Turkish often drops subject pronouns?

Turkish is a pro-drop language, meaning that subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb conjugation already indicates the subject. In this sentence, including Ben (which means "I") adds clarity and emphasis, especially for learners who are still getting familiar with the language.

How are the past tense forms çalıştım and başardım formed, and why do they use different connectors (-tım vs. -dım)?

Both verbs are in the first person singular simple past tense. Turkish forms the past tense by adding suffixes that vary based on vowel harmony and the final sound of the verb stem. For çalışmak ("to work/study"), the stem ends in a voiceless sound, so the suffix -tım is used, forming çalıştım. Meanwhile, başarmak ("to succeed/achieve") takes -dım based on its phonetic properties, resulting in başardım.

Why is sınavı written with the ending -ı, and what does it indicate?

The ending -ı in sınavı is the accusative case marker, which is used to indicate a definite direct object. In the sentence, it shows that sınav ("exam") is the specific object of the verb başarmak ("to succeed/achieve"), hence translating to "the exam" in English.

What role does çok play in Ben çok çalıştım? Does it mean "very" or "hard"?

In this context, çok functions as an intensifier meaning "very" or "a lot." When you say çok çalıştım, it implies that you worked very hard or put in a great deal of effort. It conveys the intensity of the action, much like saying "I worked really hard" in English.

Why is the subject not repeated in the second clause (ve sınavı başardım)?

Once the subject is established—in this case, Ben from the first clause—Turkish often omits it in subsequent clauses since it is clear from context. This makes the sentence more concise and is a common feature of Turkish sentence structure.