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Questions & Answers about Ben sözümü tutuyorum.
What does the Turkish noun söz mean in this context, and how does it relate to the idea of keeping a promise?
In this sentence, söz means a “word” in the sense of a promise. When you keep your word, you are staying true to your promise. In Turkish, the noun is used with additional suffixes to indicate possession and case, as seen in sözümü (“my word”).
Why is the subject pronoun Ben explicitly included even though the verb already shows the subject?
Turkish verb conjugations inherently include information about the subject, so pronouns are often omitted. However, including Ben (“I”) can serve to emphasize the subject or provide clarity, particularly when the speaker wants to stress personal commitment.
How is sözümü constructed, and what does each part of the word represent?
The word sözümü comes from söz (“word” or “promise”) combined with a possessive suffix and an accusative case ending. The possessive element (reflecting “my”) and the accusative ending merge to form sözümü, meaning “my word” as the direct object of the verb.
How is the verb tutuyorum formed, and what tense does it represent?
The verb tutuyorum is derived from the base verb tutmak (“to keep” or “to hold”). It is conjugated in the present continuous tense, using the marker -yor- to indicate ongoing or habitual action and the ending -um for the first person singular. This form can be understood as “I am keeping” or, more idiomatically, “I keep.”
Why might Turkish use the present continuous form here, even though in English we typically say “I keep my word” in the simple present?
Although tutuyorum is technically present continuous, Turkish often uses this tense to express general habits or truths. In this context, it conveys a commitment that is ongoing or habitual, which aligns well with the English idiom “I keep my word.”