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Questions & Answers about Ben eldiven takıyorum.
Why is Ben used here, and can I drop it?
In Turkish the subject pronoun is usually optional because the verb ending already shows who does the action. Takıyorum ends in -um, so it already means “I.” You can simply say Eldiven takıyorum and it still means “(I am) wearing gloves.” You include Ben only for emphasis or clarity.
Why is eldiven not marked with any suffix? Where is the accusative case?
Turkish uses the accusative suffix -ı/-i/-u/-ü only for definite direct objects. Here you’re speaking about gloves in general (indefinite), so you leave eldiven unmarked. If you meant “(I am) wearing the gloves” (those specific gloves), you would say Eldivenleri takıyorum (plural definite).
Why is eldiven singular when I actually wear two gloves?
Many paired items in Turkish are treated as a single noun when you speak of them in general. Eldiven can mean “a pair of gloves” or “gloves” collectively. If you really want to stress the number, you could say İki eldiven takıyorum (“I am wearing two gloves”), but it’s not required.
Why do we use takmak instead of giymek to say “wear” for gloves?
In Turkish giymek is used for main clothing (shirts, pants, coats), while takmak is used for accessories or smaller wearables—glasses, rings, hats, and gloves. So even though gloves cover your hands like clothing, they’re treated as an accessory and take takmak.
How is the verb form takıyorum built from the root?
- Start with the root tak- (“put on”).
- Add the progressive suffix -ıyor/-iyor/-uyor/-üyor (vowel chosen by harmony). Here it’s tak + ıyor = takıyor.
- Add the first-person singular ending -um: takıyor + um = takıyorum.
So takıyorum literally means “I am putting on.”
Why is the verb at the end? Could I say “Takıyorum eldiven”?
Turkish is an SOV (subject-object-verb) language: Subject, then Object, then Verb. Saying Takıyorum eldiven would sound unnatural. The normal order is [Ben] [eldiven] [takıyorum].
What’s the difference between takıyorum and takarım?
Takıyorum is present continuous: “I am wearing/putting on (right now).”
Takarım is the aorist (simple present), used for habitual or general actions: “I wear gloves (e.g. when it’s cold).”
How do I say “I am wearing the gloves” if I mean specific ones?
To mark a definite object, add the accusative and usually plural if it’s more than one: Eldivenleri takıyorum means “I am wearing the gloves (those particular gloves).”