Ben tuvali boyuyorum.

I am painting the canvas.

Breakdown of Ben tuvali boyuyorum.

• ben: I
• boyamak: to paint
• tuval: the canvas

Questions & Answers about Ben tuvali boyuyorum.

Why does tuvali have an -i at the end? Isn’t the noun just tuval?

In Turkish, a definite/specific direct object takes the accusative suffix -ı/-i/-u/-ü (according to vowel harmony).

• tuval (canvas) + -ı → tuvali (“the canvas”).
  If the object is indefinite or generic (“a canvas” or “canvases” in general), you omit that suffix: tuval boyuyorum (“I’m painting a canvas”).

What does the -yor part in boyuyorum mean?

-yor is the present‐continuous tense marker in Turkish, corresponding to English “-ing” (am/is/are doing). You attach -yor to the verb stem, then add the personal ending (-um for “I,” ‑sun for “you,” etc.).

Why is it boyuyorum and not boya-yorum or boyıyorum?

The verb root is boya- (“to paint”), which ends in -a. When you add -yor, Turkish drops that final stem vowel:
1) boya- → boyu- (drop a)
2) boyu- + -yor → boyuyor
3) boyuyor + -um (1st-person ending) → boyuyorum

Is it necessary to say ben in Ben tuvali boyuyorum? Can I drop it?