Questions & Answers about Şahsen ben çay tercih ediyorum.
Is this sentence natural as-is, or would a native tweak it?
It’s acceptable and understandable. For a timeless, general preference, many natives would more typically say: Şahsen çayı tercih ederim. Your version with -iyor (present continuous) is also used in conversation, especially if you’re talking about a current choice or stance in a specific situation. Including both şahsen and ben is a bit redundant but not wrong—just extra emphasis on “I, personally.”
Do I need the subject pronoun ben?
No. The ending -um in ediyorum already shows “I.”
- Neutral: Şahsen çay tercih ediyorum.
- With emphasis/contrast: Şahsen ben çay tercih ediyorum. (I personally, as opposed to others)
Why is it çay, not çayı? What’s the difference?
- çay (no accusative) = an indefinite/generic object: “tea (in general).”
- çayı (accusative) = a definite/specific object or a contrasted category: “the tea (we mean)” or “tea (as opposed to something else).”
In comparisons, çayı is very common:
- Kahve mi, çay mı? — Çayı tercih ediyorum.
Should it be tercih ederim instead of tercih ediyorum to state a general preference?