Ben mektubu teslim ediyorum.

Breakdown of Ben mektubu teslim ediyorum.

ben
I
mektup
the letter
teslim etmek
to deliver
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Questions & Answers about Ben mektubu teslim ediyorum.

Why is the subject Ben explicitly written when Turkish often drops subject pronouns?
In Turkish, the verb conjugation usually indicates the subject, so it is common to omit the subject pronoun. However, including Ben (meaning I) can be done for emphasis, clarity, or stylistic reasons—especially helpful for learners to clearly see who is performing the action.
Why does mektup change to mektubu in this sentence?
The change occurs because -u is the accusative case marker in Turkish. When an object is definite or specific, the accusative suffix is added to the noun. Thus, mektubu indicates “the letter” (a specific letter being delivered).
What is the structure and role of teslim ediyorum in this sentence?
Teslim ediyorum is a compound verb derived from teslim etmek (to deliver). The part ediyorum is the present continuous form that indicates an action in progress, translating to “I am delivering.” This construction is common in Turkish for forming continuous tenses with compound verbs.
Why is the object placed before the verb in this sentence?
Turkish typically follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) sentence structure. That’s why after the subject Ben, the object mektubu comes next, followed by the verb teslim ediyorum. This ordering is standard in Turkish syntax, even though it differs from the Subject-Verb-Object order common in English.
How does the present continuous tense work in this context?
In Turkish, the present continuous tense is formed by adding a continuous suffix to the verb stem along with the appropriate personal ending. In teslim ediyorum, ediyorum indicates that the action is currently in progress. This corresponds to the English "I am delivering," clarifying that the delivery is taking place right now.