Learn Hardcore Turkish: Okulda büyük bir projede çalışırken, hocalarım terbiyeli davranıyorlar. - While working on a big project at school, my teachers act politely.

The suffix -ken is used to create a temporal (time) clause, indicating that one action occurs simultaneously with another. In çalışırken, it means “while working.” It is formed by taking the base of the verb çalışmak (“to work”) and adding -ken to express the idea of “during” or “while” the action is in progress.

How do the locative forms in Okulda and projede function?

Both Okulda (“at school”) and projede (“in a project”) use the locative case to indicate location. Turkish adds the suffix -da or -de (depending on vowel harmony) to a noun to show where an action takes place. That’s why okul becomes Okulda and proje becomes projede.

Can you explain the structure of hocalarım and the order of its suffixes?

Certainly. The noun hoca means “teacher.” First, the plural suffix -lar is added, forming hocalar (“teachers”). Then, the first-person possessive suffix -ım is attached, resulting in hocalarım, which means “my teachers.” In Turkish, the plural suffix comes before the possessive suffix.

Why does the verb davranıyorlar end with -lar, and how is it conjugated?

Davranıyorlar is the present continuous form of the verb davranmak (“to behave”). The base davranıyor expresses the ongoing action, and the -lar ending indicates third-person plural, matching the plural subject (my teachers). This agreement between the subject and the verb ending is typical in Turkish.

What does the adjective terbiyeli mean in this sentence?

The adjective terbiyeli means “well-mannered” or “polite.” It describes the teachers’ behavior, indicating that they act courteously. While it functions much like adjectives in English, it often carries a nuance of one’s upbringing or refined manners.

What is the role of the comma in the sentence?

The comma separates the subordinate clause "Okulda büyük bir projede çalışırken" (“while working on a big project at school”) from the main clause "hocalarım terbiyeli davranıyorlar" (“my teachers behave politely”). This punctuation helps clarify that the first part provides background information that sets the scene for the main action described in the second part.