Learn Hardcore Turkish: Ben proje dosyasını kontrol ediyorum.

When a bare noun like proje modifies another noun (dosya), the head noun must first take the 3rd person singular possessive suffix -sı (its file), then the accusative suffix -ı (definite direct object). So the chain is:
dosya → dosyası (its file) → dosyasını (its file as object).

What do the parts of kontrol ediyorum mean?

kontrol: noun “check/control”
et: verb “to do” (forms kontrol et-, “to check”)
-iyor: present continuous marker
-um: 1st person singular ending
Putting them together: kontrol + et- + iyor + um → kontrol ediyorum “I am checking.”

Can I drop ben in this sentence?

Yes. Turkish verbs are inflected for person, so the subject pronoun is usually optional unless you want emphasis or contrast.
Proje dosyasını kontrol ediyorum. (I’m checking the project file.)

Why is the object placed before the verb?

Turkish is generally Subject–Object–Verb (SOV). The object normally comes right before the verb, so this order is standard.

What’s the difference between proje dosyası and projenin dosyası?

• proje dosyası is a bare noun compound (common in technical contexts).
• projenin dosyası uses the genitive -in on proje plus the possessive -sı on dosya, literally “the file of the project.” Both mean “project file,” but the genitive form feels more “of the project.”

Is there another way to say “check” in Turkish?

Yes. You can also say:
• kontrol yapmak (“to do a check”) – very common, a calque from English
• incelemek (“to examine/inspect”), slightly more formal

Why is the verb in the present continuous? Could I say kontrol ederim instead?

kontrol ediyorum = “I am checking right now.”
kontrol ederim usually means “I check” (habitually) or “I will check” (in the future). Use -iyorum for an action in progress.

How do I turn this into “Are you checking the project file?”

Add the question particle -mı after the verb stem and use the 2nd person ending:
Proje dosyasını kontrol ediyor musun?