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Breakdown of Sen toplantıda aynı şeyi sorup duruyorsun.
sen
you
şey
the thing
toplantı
the meeting
aynı
same
-da
in
sorup durmak
to keep asking
Questions & Answers about Sen toplantıda aynı şeyi sorup duruyorsun.
Do I have to say Sen, or can I drop it?
You can drop it. Turkish is pro-drop, so Toplantıda aynı şeyi sorup duruyorsun is perfectly fine. Using Sen adds emphasis or contrast, often with a mildly reproachful tone: it’s you (as opposed to others) who keeps asking.
Is da in toplantıda the same as the separate particle de/da meaning “also/too”?
No. In toplantıda, -da is the locative case suffix meaning “in/at.” The “also/too” particle is written separately (e.g., sen de). Here it’s a bound suffix: toplantı-da.
Why is it -da (not -de) and why not -ta/-te?
- Vowel harmony: toplantı has a back vowel (ı), so the locative uses -da (back form), not -de.
- Voicing: the stem ends in a vowel, so the suffix consonant stays d (it only becomes t after a voiceless consonant, e.g., park-ta).
What’s going on with aynı şeyi? Why the -i?
Şeyi is in the accusative (-i) because it’s a definite/specific direct object: “the same thing (we both know about).” Without -i (aynı şey) it’s more generic. Both occur, but the accusative stresses a specific, already-known “same thing.”
Could I say aynı soruyu instead of aynı şeyi?
Yes. Aynı soruyu is “the same question” and is often clearer when you really mean a question. Aynı şeyi is broader (“the same thing/topic/point”) and is very common in speech.
What does -ıp durmak add compared to just sormak or soruyorsun?
V-(y)ip durmak marks repeated/ongoing action, often felt as persistent and slightly annoying: “keep V‑ing, V‑ing over and over.” So sorup duruyorsun is stronger than plain soruyorsun.
How is sorup formed?
It’s the converb -(y)ip attached to the verb root:
- sor- (ask) + -up (because of back rounded harmony after o) → sorup This “-ip” form links to durmak to make the idiom “keep doing.”
Is durmak literal here (to stand/stop), or auxiliary?
Auxiliary. In V‑(y)ip durmak, durmak loses its literal meaning and signals persistence/continuity of the first verb.
Is the tone annoyed? Is there a neutral alternative?
Yes, sorup duruyorsun often implies mild irritation. Neutral or formal alternatives:
- Sormaya devam ediyorsun (you continue to ask; neutral)
- Sürekli/Hep soruyorsun (you always/constantly ask; neutral-to-colloquial)
Can I say soruyor duruyorsun instead?
No. You can’t chain two finite verbs like that. The standard pattern is converb + auxiliary: sorup duruyorsun.
What are some other forms with this construction?
- Past: sorup durdun / sorup duruyordun
- Negative: sorup durmuyorsun
- Question: sorup duruyor musun?
- Imperative: sorup durma! (Don’t keep asking!)
How does hep/sürekli/durmadan compare to sorup durmak?
- Hep/Sürekli soruyorsun: frequent/constant, neutral.
- Durmadan soruyorsun: “without stopping,” can imply impatience.
- Sorup duruyorsun: repetitive and often mildly annoyed; more idiomatic/emphatic.
Can I say toplantıdayken? What’s the difference from toplantıda?
Yes: Toplantıdayken = “while (you are) in the meeting,” explicitly temporal. Toplantıda is simpler “in/at the meeting” and often enough for the same context.
Does word order matter here?
Basic neutral orders include:
- Sen toplantıda aynı şeyi sorup duruyorsun. (subject up front; mild emphasis on “you”)
- Toplantıda aynı şeyi sorup duruyorsun. (topic “in the meeting” first)
- Aynı şeyi toplantıda sorup duruyorsun. (focus on the object first) Turkish uses word order to manage topic/focus and emphasis rather than grammar.
Does aynı inflect? Why isn’t there a suffix on it?
Aynı is invariable. Case/number markers go on the noun: aynı şey-i, aynı soru-ya, etc. The adjective itself doesn’t change.
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