Learn Hardcore Turkish: Öğle arası boyunca, ofiste hafif bir kahve molası verdik. - During lunch break, we had a light coffee break at the office.

Öğle arası boyunca literally translates as “throughout the lunch break.” It acts as a time expression, indicating that the event (the coffee break) took place during the entire duration of the lunch period.

Why is the verb verdik used to describe taking a coffee break when it literally means “gave”?

In Turkish, the expression “kahve molası vermek” is idiomatic. Although verdik comes from vermek (meaning “to give”), in this context it means “to take” a coffee break. The phrase is a fixed expression where the literal meaning differs from the idiomatic use.

What role does ofiste play in the sentence?

Ofiste means “in the office” or “at the office.” It is formed by adding the locative suffix (here, -te) to ofis, indicating the location where the coffee break occurred.

How does the adjective hafif modify the meaning of the coffee break?

Hafif translates to “light” and suggests that the coffee break was brief or informal, perhaps without extensive food or effort. It gives a nuance that the break was relaxed and not a heavy meal or lengthy pause.

Why is there a comma after “Öğle arası boyunca”?

The comma separates the introductory time phrase “Öğle arası boyunca” from the main clause. This punctuation helps clarify that the time frame applies to the entire following action, a common stylistic choice in Turkish to enhance sentence clarity.

How is the subject “we” understood even though it isn’t explicitly mentioned in the sentence?

Turkish verbs include information about the subject in their endings. In verdik, the suffix -dik indicates that the subject is “we.” This is why explicit subject pronouns are often omitted in Turkish when the context makes the subject clear.