Questions & Answers about Ben genelde sabahları çay içiyorum.
Do I need to say Ben, or can I drop it?
You can drop it. The verb ending in içiyorum already shows the subject is first person singular. Use Ben for emphasis, contrast, or clarity.
- Neutral: Genelde sabahları çay içiyorum.
- Emphasis on “I (as opposed to others)”: Ben genelde sabahları çay içiyorum.
Why is it içiyorum (present continuous) if this is a habit? Shouldn’t it be içerim?
Both are possible:
- içerim (aorist) states a general, timeless habit: Genelde sabahları çay içerim.
- içiyorum (-iyor) often describes a current or ongoing routine: Genelde sabahları çay içiyorum. With adverbs like genelde, both are fine; içerim sounds slightly more “stated fact,” içiyorum a bit more about one’s present pattern.
What does the -ları in sabahları do? Is it the accusative?
It’s not the accusative. Sabah-lar-ı is a set pattern used with time words to mean “on Xs / in the Xs (habitually).” Think of it as a distributive/time plural: “in the mornings.”
- Other examples: akşamları (in the evenings), kışları (in winters), pazartesileri (on Mondays).
Can I use sabah or sabahleyin instead of sabahları?