Ben balıkları göle salıyorum.

I am releasing the fish into the lake.

Breakdown of Ben balıkları göle salıyorum.

• ben: I
• balık: the fish
• -ya: to
• göl: the lake
• salmak: to release

Questions & Answers about Ben balıkları göle salıyorum.

What does salıyorum mean in English, and how is it formed?

salıyorum is the first-person singular present-continuous form of salmak (“to release” or “to let go”). You can break it down as:
• sal- (verb stem “release”)
• -ıyor (progressive suffix “–ing”)
• -um (1st person singular “I”)
Literally, salıyorum = “I am releasing.”

Why is balıkları used instead of just balıklar?

balık means “fish.”

1. -lar marks plurality → balıklar = “fish” (plural).
2. -ı is the definite-accusative suffix, used because these are specific fish you’re releasing → balıkları = “the fish” (as a direct object).

Why does göle take the -e ending, and what does it mean?

göl means “lake.”
• -e is the dative case ending, showing direction to something.
So göle = “to the lake.”

What’s the difference between göle and gölde?

These are two different cases of göl (“lake”):
• göle (-e): dative, “to the lake” (movement into).
• gölde (-de): locative, “in/at the lake” (static location).

Why is Ben used in the sentence, and can it be dropped?

Ben means “I.” Turkish is a pro-drop language, so the subject pronoun is optional when the verb ending already shows person.
• Ben balıkları göle salıyorum. (with pronoun for emphasis or clarity)
• Balıkları göle salıyorum. (equally correct; “I” is understood)

What is the typical word order in this sentence, and can it change?

Turkish defaults to Subject-Object-(Indirect Object)-Verb (SOV). Here:
• Ben (S)
• balıkları (O)
• göle (directional object)
• salıyorum (V)
You can reorder for emphasis (e.g. Göle balıkları salıyorum to stress göle), but the verb usually stays at the end.

Why do we use the progressive -ıyor here instead of the aorist -ar/-er?

• -ıyor (progressive): indicates an ongoing action – “I am releasing (right now).”
• -ar/-er (aorist): expresses habitual or general actions – “I release (as a habit).”
If you said Ben balıkları göle salarım, it would mean “I (habitually) release fish into the lake,” rather than “I am releasing them now.”