Ben köpeği besliyorum.

I am feeding the dog.

Breakdown of Ben köpeği besliyorum.

• köpek: the dog
• ben: I
• beslemek: to feed

Questions & Answers about Ben köpeği besliyorum.

Why do we need Ben if besliyorum already means I am feeding?

In Turkish the verb ending already shows who the subject is:

• besliyor-um → -um = I

So Köpeği besliyorum already means I am feeding the dog.

You add Ben mainly for emphasis or contrast, roughly like:

• Ben köpeği besliyorum. = I am feeding the dog (not someone else).

In neutral, everyday speech, people often drop Ben and just say:

• Köpeği besliyorum.

Why is it köpeği and not just köpek?

Köpeği has the -i ending because it’s a definite direct object.

In Turkish:

• köpek besliyorum = I am feeding a dog (some dog, not specific)
• köpeği besliyorum = I am feeding the dog (a specific dog you both know)

The -i ending is called the accusative. It is used when the direct object is specific/definite.

How is köpeği formed from köpek?

Start with köpek (dog) and add the accusative -i:

• köpek + i → köpeği

Two changes happen:

1. Consonant softening: final k → ğ before a vowel

   • köpek + i → köpeği

2. Vowel harmony: the suffix uses i (front unrounded vowel) to match ö/e in köpek.

So köpeği literally means the dog as a direct object (the dog that we have in mind).

Is köpeği ever ambiguous? Could it also mean his/her dog?

Yes, köpeği can mean either:

1. the dog (accusative):

   • Köpeği besliyorum. = I am feeding the dog.

2. his/her dog (3rd person possessive, nominative or object):

   • Köpeği uyuyor. = His/Her dog is sleeping.

They look and sound the same. You understand which one is meant from context and sentence structure:

• If it is a direct object of a verb and clearly specific → usually accusative “the dog”.
• If it behaves like a subject or clearly means possession → “his/her dog”.

What exactly does besliyorum consist of?

Breakdown of besliyorum:

• besle- → verb root: to feed
• -iyor- → present continuous marker (with vowel harmony: -ıyor / -iyor / -uyor / -üyor)
• -um → I (1st person singular ending)

So:

• besle- + -iyor + -um → besliyorum

The e in besle- and the i in -iyor merge, giving besliyor-, then plus -um → besliyorum.

Meaning: I am feeding / I’m in the process of feeding.

Why is it besliyorum, not besiyorum or besleyorum?

The correct form follows regular sound-change rules for the -iyor suffix:

1. Verb root: besle-
2. Add -iyor (present continuous):
   
   • besle- + -iyor → besliyor
     (the e + i contracts into a single i, and the l stays)
3. Add -um (I):
   
   • besliyor + um → besliyorum

So:

• ❌ besiyorum – incorrect formation
• ❌ besleyorum – incorrect vowel pattern
• ✅ besliyorum – correct and natural

What is the difference between besliyorum and beslerim?

Both come from beslemek (to feed), but the tense/aspect is different:

• besliyorum → present continuous

  • I am feeding (right now / currently / these days).

• beslerim → aorist / simple present

  • I feed (regularly, habitually, generally).
  • e.g. Her gün köpeği beslerim. = I feed the dog every day.

So:

• Ben köpeği besliyorum. → focuses on an action in progress or around now.
• Ben köpeği beslerim. → focuses on a habit, routine, or general fact.

Is the word order fixed? Can I say Köpeği ben besliyorum?

The basic, neutral word order is Subject – Object – Verb:

• Ben köpeği besliyorum.

But Turkish word order is flexible for emphasis.
Saying:

• Köpeği ben besliyorum.

puts emphasis on ben:

• I am the one feeding the dog (not someone else).

Both sentences are grammatically correct; the difference is in focus, not basic meaning.

Can I drop Ben and just say Köpeği besliyorum?

Yes, and that is actually more common in everyday speech.

• Köpeği besliyorum. = I am feeding the dog.

The subject I is clear from the ending -um in besliyorum, so Ben is optional unless you want to emphasize I.

How do I say I am not feeding the dog?

You add the negative suffix -me/-ma before the -yor:

• besle- (to feed)
• besle-me- (not feed)
• besle-me-yor-um → beslemiyorum

So:

• Ben köpeği beslemiyorum.
  = I am not feeding the dog.

Notice how the vowel harmony changes the negative and the -yor part together, giving -miyorum.

How do I turn this into a question like Are you feeding the dog??

For yes/no questions, Turkish uses the question particle mi/mi̇/ mı/mu/mü after the verb (with personal endings on it).

To ask Are you feeding the dog?:

• Köpeği besliyor musun?

Breakdown:

• besliyor → present continuous stem
• mu → question particle (vowel harmony)
• sun → you (2nd person singular)

Other persons:

• Köpeği besliyor muyum? – Am I feeding the dog?
• Köpeği besliyor musun? – Are you (sg.) feeding the dog?
• Köpeği besliyor mu? – Is he/she feeding the dog?
• Köpeği besliyor muyuz? – Are we feeding the dog?
• Köpeği besliyor musunuz? – Are you (pl./formal) feeding the dog?
• Köpeği besliyorlar mı? – Are they feeding the dog?

Where would I put now (şimdi) if I want to say I am feeding the dog now?

You can place şimdi in several natural positions, usually near the beginning:

• Şimdi köpeği besliyorum.
• Ben şimdi köpeği besliyorum.

All mean I am feeding the dog now, with şimdi emphasizing that it is happening at this moment.

How would I say I am feeding a dog (not a specific one)?

To make the object indefinite (a dog rather than the dog), you omit the accusative -i:

• Ben köpek besliyorum. = I am feeding a dog.

Compare:

• Ben köpek besliyorum. → I’m feeding a dog (any dog).
• Ben köpeği besliyorum. → I’m feeding the dog (a specific dog you both know about).