Learn Hardcore Turkish: Ben toplantıdan sonra odadan ayrılıyorum.

The suffix -dan is the ablative case marker, indicating from. In toplantıdan it means from the meeting, and in odadan it means from the room.

Why is sonra placed after toplantıdan and not before it?

In Turkish, sonra functions as a postposition (not a preposition), so it follows the noun in the ablative case: you say toplantıdan sonra for after the meeting.

Why is the verb ayrılıyorum in the present continuous form instead of a simple present or future tense?

Turkish uses the present continuous (-yor suffix) for both ongoing actions and near-future events. Ayrılıyorum literally means I am leaving, and in this context it can also be understood as I will leave.

Is Ben necessary at the beginning of the sentence?

No. Turkish verbs carry person information, so the pronoun Ben (I) is often omitted. Toplantıdan sonra odadan ayrılıyorum is perfectly natural without Ben.

How do you indicate definiteness since there is no the before toplantı or oda?

Turkish does not have articles like the or a/an. Definiteness is inferred from context. Here, both toplantı and oda refer to a specific meeting and room known to the speaker and listener.

Could you swap the word order to Ben odadan toplantıdan sonra ayrılıyorum, and would it still make sense?

Yes, Turkish word order is flexible, but the most neutral sequence is Subject – Time – Place – Verb. Ben toplantıdan sonra odadan ayrılıyorum sounds more natural, though other orders are grammatically correct.

What’s the difference between odadan ayrılmak and odadan çıkmak?

Both can mean to leave the room, but çıkmak focuses on the physical act of exiting, while ayrılmak emphasizes departing or parting.

How would you change the sentence to past tense: I left the room after the meeting?

Use the past tense suffix -dı (or -ti after certain vowels) and the first-person singular ending -m: Toplantıdan sonra odadan ayrıldım.