Learn Hardcore Turkish: Parktaki bank boşken sohbet etmek harika. - When the bench in the park is free, chatting is wonderful.

Parktaki = park-ta-ki. Take park “park,” add the locative -ta “in/at,” then add -ki, which turns that location into an adjective meaning “the one that is in/at ….” So parktaki bank = “the bench that is in the park.” Notes:

-ki is invariable (it doesn’t change with vowel harmony).
It’s written together with the word: evdeki, okuldaki, buradaki.

Why is it bank and not banka?

In Turkish, bank = “bench,” while banka = “(financial) bank.” So parktaki bank is “the bench in the park,” not “the bank in the park.” Examples:

bankta oturmak = “to sit on the bench”
bankada hesap = “an account at the bank”

What does boşken mean and how does -ken work?

Boşken means “when it is empty/available.” It comes from boş “empty” + iken “while/when (being).” In everyday speech and writing, iken usually contracts to -ken:

boş + iken → boşken
If the word ends in a vowel, a buffer y appears: iyi → iyiyken, evde → evdeyken. -ken attaches to nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and even verb stems to mean “while/when ….”

Who is the understood subject of boşken here?

The subject is the previously mentioned bank. The clause is reduced: (Parktaki bank) boşken ≈ “while the (park) bench is empty.” More explicit versions include:

Parktaki bank boş olduğunda …
Parktaki bank boş iken …

Can I use boş iken or boş olduğunda instead of boşken? Any nuance?

Yes.

boşken / boş iken = “while (it is) empty,” more general/simultaneous.
boş olduğunda = “when it is/gets empty,” can suggest a specific time point or condition. All are correct; -ken is the most concise.

What role does sohbet etmek play in this sentence?

It’s an infinitive (a verbal noun) functioning as the subject: Sohbet etmek (chatting/to chat) = harika (is great). If you want to specify whose chatting, you add a possessive:

Senin sohbet etmen harika. = “Your chatting is great.”

Why isn’t there a verb “to be” before harika? Could I say harikadır?

Turkish often omits “to be” in the simple present. Sohbet etmek harika literally is “Chatting great.” You can add -dır for a more formal or categorical tone: Sohbet etmek harikadır. Both are correct.

What’s the difference between sohbet etmek and konuşmak?

sohbet etmek = “to chat,” friendly, relaxed talk, often mutual and informal.
konuşmak = “to speak/talk,” broader and neutral; can be formal or informal. Colloquial synonyms of sohbet etmek: muhabbet etmek, laklak etmek (very casual).

Is the word order fixed? Can I move parts around?

Flexible, as long as the meaning stays clear. Natural alternatives:

Parktaki bank boşken, sohbet etmek harika.
Sohbet etmek, parktaki bank boşken, harika. (adds emphasis on “chatting”) Keeping the -ken clause first is common, and adding a comma helps readability.

Should there be a comma after the -ken clause?

Not mandatory, but recommended for clarity: Parktaki bank boşken, sohbet etmek harika.

Why is it parktaki (not parkdaki or parkteki)?

Because the locative on park is parkta (back vowel ⇒ -a, voiceless final consonant ⇒ -t-). Then add -ki:

park + -ta + -ki → parktaki Remember: -ki itself doesn’t change. More examples:
ev + -de + -ki → evdeki
okul + -da + -ki → okuldaki

Is parktaki bank definite (“the bench”) or indefinite (“a bench”)?

Without bir, it tends to be specific/definite: “the bench (that’s) in the park” (often one both speakers can identify). To say “a bench in the park,” use bir:

Parktaki bir bank = “a bench in the park.”

How do I say “when the benches in the park are empty” or “when there is a free bench in the park”?

Plural benches: Parktaki banklar boşken, sohbet etmek harika.
“When there is a free bench”: Parkta boş bir bank varken, sohbet etmek harika. or Parkta boş bir bank olduğunda, sohbet etmek harika.

Does boş here mean “free (of charge)”?

No. boş means “empty/vacant/available (not occupied).” For “free of charge,” use ücretsiz; for “free” as in “unrestricted,” use serbest. Examples:

boş yer = an available seat/space
ücretsiz giriş = free admission
serbest zaman = free time (no restrictions)

How do I say “chat with someone” or add a companion?

Use ile (often as the clitic -le/-la):

Arkadaşımla sohbet etmek harika. = “Chatting with my friend is great.”
Biriyle sohbet etmek = “to chat with someone.”

Can -ken attach to verbs too?

Yes. With verb stems it means “while doing …”:

otururken = “while sitting”
beklerken = “while waiting”
yürürken = “while walking” Example: Parktaki bankta otururken sohbet etmek harika. = “It’s great to chat while sitting on the bench in the park.”