Questions & Answers about Ben arkadaşımı selamlıyorum.
Why is Ben included when Turkish usually drops subject pronouns?
In Turkish, the verb ending already indicates the subject person. Pronouns like Ben (I) are therefore optional and often omitted. Here Ben is used for emphasis or clarity. Without it, Arkadaşımı selamlıyorum still means “I greet my friend.”
How is arkadaşımı formed?
arkadaşımı consists of three parts:
- arkadaş = “friend”
- -ım = 1st person singular possessive suffix, “my”
- -ı = accusative case marker for a definite direct object
Put together: arkadaş + ım + ı ⇒ arkadaşımı (“my friend” as the object).
Why does arkadaşımı take the accusative suffix -ı?
Turkish marks definite (specific) direct objects with the accusative suffix -ı/-i/-u/-ü (according to vowel harmony). Since my friend is a specific person, you add -ı. If the object were indefinite/non-specific (“I greet a friend”), you would omit it: Arkadaş selamlıyorum (though that’s less common in everyday speech).
What does the ending -lıyorum in selamlıyorum express?