Breakdown of Maaş düşük, ama ben çalışıyorum.
olmak
to be
ben
I
çalışmak
to work
ama
but
düşük
low
maaş
the salary
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Questions & Answers about Maaş düşük, ama ben çalışıyorum.
Why is there no word for “is” in Maaş düşük?
In Turkish, the present “to be” is usually unexpressed with noun/adjective predicates. So Maaş düşük already means “The salary is low.” You can add the copular suffix -dır/-dir for formality/emphasis: Maaş düşüktür. To negate, use değil: Maaş düşük değil.
Do I need the comma before ama?
No. Both Maaş düşük ama ben çalışıyorum and Maaş düşük, ama ben çalışıyorum are fine; the comma just marks a pause in speech.
Do I have to say ben, or can I drop it?
You can drop it: Ama çalışıyorum is fully grammatical because -um already marks “I.” Including ben adds contrast/emphasis: “but I (as opposed to others) am working.”
What exactly does çalışıyorum convey—right now, or generally?
It’s the present continuous, so it can mean “I’m working right now” or “I’m working these days/at present.” It can also express a scheduled near future (e.g., Yarın çalışıyorum = “I’m working tomorrow”). For timeless/habitual statements, Turkish prefers the aorist: çalışırım.
How is çalışıyorum formed?
Stem çalış- + progressive -(I)yor + 1sg -um → çalış-ı-yor-um. The inserted vowel ı follows vowel harmony. The dotless ı is a back unrounded vowel; ş is “sh.”
Why not say Maaş düşüktür here?
You can, but -dır/-dir sounds more formal/authoritative or like a general statement. The everyday, neutral form drops it: Maaş düşük. Note the spelling düşüktür (the suffix surfaces as -tır after the voiceless k).
How would I say “My salary is low”?
Add a possessive: Maaşım düşük. In your sentence: Maaşım düşük, ama çalışıyorum.
Should I use düşük or az when talking about pay?
Both occur, with a nuance: düşük = “low” as a level/rate (düşük maaş / maaş düşük), while az = “little/low in amount” (maaş az / maaşım az) in everyday speech. Avoid alçak for salary—it means “low” in height or “mean/despicable.”
How can I say “Although the salary is low, I’m working”?
Use a concessive: Maaş düşük olsa da çalışıyorum or Maaş düşük olmasına rağmen çalışıyorum. You can also add yine de for “nevertheless”: Maaş düşük, ama yine de çalışıyorum.
Can I swap the clause order?
Yes: Ben çalışıyorum ama maaş düşük is natural. Initial position tends to get topical emphasis (you foreground what you say first).
Is ama the only option for “but”?
Alternatives: fakat (formal), ancak (more formal/also “however” or “only” depending on position), lâkin (literary). In everyday speech, ama is the default.
How do I negate the adjective or the verb?
Adjective/noun predicates negate with değil: Maaş düşük değil. The verb negates with -mA: Ama ben çalışmıyorum.
What does bense mean, and could it fit here?
Bense means “as for me” (pronoun + -se topic marker). You can say Maaş düşük, bense çalışıyorum for a stronger “as for me” contrast.
Any pronunciation tips for maaş and çalışıyorum?
Maaş has a long “a” and ş as “sh” (roughly “maa-ash”). Çalışıyorum is roughly “cha-luh-shuh-yor-oom,” with the dotless ı not like English “i.”