Ben dinlerken not alıyorum, böylece daha iyi hatırlıyorum.

While I am listening, I take notes, so I remember better.

Breakdown of Ben dinlerken not alıyorum, böylece daha iyi hatırlıyorum.

• ben: I
• böylece: thus
• hatırlamak: to remember
• daha iyi: better
• almak: to take
• dinlemek: to listen
• not: the note
• -irken: while

Questions & Answers about Ben dinlerken not alıyorum, böylece daha iyi hatırlıyorum.

In Turkish, the verb already shows the subject, so why does the sentence still start with Ben?

Turkish verbs already show person and number, so Ben is often optional.

In Ben dinlerken not alıyorum, böylece daha iyi hatırlıyorum, Ben is used for:

• Emphasis / contrast:
  
  • Ben dinlerken not alıyorum = I take notes (maybe others don’t).
• Clarity in context: if there are several people in the conversation, adding Ben makes it very explicit.

Without Ben, the sentence:

• Dinlerken not alıyorum, böylece daha iyi hatırlıyorum.
  is perfectly correct and more neutral: When I listen, I take notes, so I remember better.

So: Ben is not grammatically required, but it adds focus on “I”.

What exactly is dinlerken and how is it formed?

Dinlerken means while (I am) listening / while (one is) listening.

Formation:

• Verb: dinlemek (to listen)
• Aorist/present stem: dinler
• Suffix: -ken (meaning while, when (doing))

dinler + ken → dinlerken

Key points:

• -ken attaches to a tense form of the verb (often the aorist stem), and the subject and time are understood from the main clause:
  • Ben dinlerken not alıyorum.
    → While *I am listening, I take notes.*
  • Sen dinlerken not alıyorsun.
    → While *you are listening, you take notes.*

So dinlerken is like saying while listening or when (I) listen.

What is the difference between dinlerken, dinlediğimde, and dinlediğim zaman?

All three can be translated as when I listen or while I’m listening, but they differ slightly in feel and structure:

1. dinlerken

   • More compact, very common in spoken and written Turkish.
   • Feels like “while (I am) listening”, focusing on the action in progress.
   • Example:
     Dinlerken not alıyorum.
     → I take notes while I’m listening.

2. dinlediğimde

   • Literally: when I listen / when I am listening.
   • Built from the past stem dinle-di-
     • -ğimde (when I …).
   • Slightly more grammatical / structured sounding.
   • Example:
     Dinlediğimde not alıyorum.
     → When I listen, I take notes.

3. dinlediğim zaman

   • Literally: the time when I listen.
   • Often a bit heavier and can sound slightly more formal or explanatory.
   • Example:
     Dinlediğim zaman not alıyorum.
     → When I listen, I take notes.

In your sentence, dinlerken is the most natural and fluent option.

What is the literal meaning of not alıyorum, and why do we use almak here?

Not alıyorum literally means I am taking notes.

• not = note (loanword, same meaning as in English)
• almak = to take

So not almak = to take notes.

Why almak?

• Turkish often uses almak (take) with borrowed nouns to form set expressions:
  • not almak – to take notes
  • fotoğraf almak (less common) – to take a photo
  • ders almak – to take a lesson / course

So not alıyorum is the standard, idiomatic way to say I’m taking notes.

Can I also say not tutuyorum instead of not alıyorum? Is there any difference?

Yes, not tutuyorum is also correct, but there is a nuance:

• not almak

  • Very common, neutral.
  • Emphasis is on the act of writing a note at that moment.
  • Ben dinlerken not alıyorum.
    → I take notes while I’m listening.

• not tutmak

  • Also common.
  • Can sound a bit more like keeping systematic notes / maintaining a record.
  • Toplantıda not tutuyorum.
    → I’m keeping the minutes / officially taking notes in the meeting.

In your sentence, both not alıyorum and not tutuyorum are acceptable, but:

• not alıyorum is more everyday / casual note-taking.
• not tutuyorum may sound slightly more official or systematic.

Why is the order Ben dinlerken not alıyorum and not something like Ben not alıyorum dinlerken?

Turkish word order is generally Subject – (time/manner) – Object – Verb.

In your sentence:

• Ben – subject
• dinlerken – time clause (while I’m listening)
• not – object
• alıyorum – verb

So Ben dinlerken not alıyorum fits the default pattern:

Subject + time phrase + object + verb

Other orders are possible but less natural or feel marked:

• Ben not alıyorum dinlerken.
  • Grammatically possible, but sounds awkward and not idiomatic.
• Dinlerken ben not alıyorum.
  • Puts extra emphasis on while listening.

The most natural everyday version is the one you have:
Ben dinlerken not alıyorum, böylece daha iyi hatırlıyorum.

What does böylece mean exactly, and how is it different from bu yüzden or o yüzden?

böylece means roughly thus, in this way, as a result.

In your sentence:

• …not alıyorum, böylece daha iyi hatırlıyorum.
  → …I take notes, *so (in this way) I remember better.*

Subtle differences:

• böylece

  • Often carries the sense: “by doing this / in this manner, this result happens”.
  • Connects an action or method to its result.

• bu yüzden / o yüzden

  • Closer to “for this reason / for that reason / therefore”.
  • Emphasizes cause–effect, not so much the method.

You could also say:

• …not alıyorum, bu yüzden daha iyi hatırlıyorum.
• …not alıyorum, o yüzden daha iyi hatırlıyorum.

These are also correct and natural, but böylece nicely highlights that the way you do something (taking notes) leads to the result (remembering better).

Is the comma before böylece necessary, and does it affect the meaning?

The comma in:

• Ben dinlerken not alıyorum, böylece daha iyi hatırlıyorum.

is standard punctuation in written Turkish, separating two clauses:

1. Ben dinlerken not alıyorum
2. böylece daha iyi hatırlıyorum

• It signals a small pause and makes the sentence easier to read.
• It does not change the meaning.

In spoken Turkish, you would naturally pause slightly before böylece, just like the comma suggests.

Without the comma in writing, it’s still understandable but less clear. In good written style, you should keep it.

Why are alıyorum and hatırlıyorum in the present continuous, not the aorist (not alırım, daha iyi hatırlarım)?

Both tense choices are possible, but they give slightly different impressions:

1. Present continuous (-yor):
   Ben dinlerken not alıyorum, böylece daha iyi hatırlıyorum.

   • Feels like current habit or ongoing pattern:
     • These days / in this situation, I take notes while listening, and that way I remember better.
   • Very natural when describing what you tend to do now.

2. Aorist (habitual present):
   Ben dinlerken not alırım, böylece daha iyi hatırlarım.

   • Stronger sense of general rule / permanent habit:
     • As a rule, whenever I listen, I (always) take notes, so I (generally) remember better.
   • Often used for timeless truths or well-established habits.

So:

• -yor → more like “this is what I (tend to) do”, often with a present, personal feel.
• -r (aorist) → more like “this is what I (always/usually) do” as a general principle.

Your original sentence with -yor is very natural in conversation.

Which words can I drop from this sentence and still be correct and natural?

You can shorten the sentence in several ways, depending on context.

1. Drop Ben (subject is clear from the verb):

   • Dinlerken not alıyorum, böylece daha iyi hatırlıyorum.
     → Most natural, default version.

2. Drop böylece (but you lose the explicit result connector):

   • Dinlerken not alıyorum, daha iyi hatırlıyorum.
     → I take notes while listening; I remember better. (The causal link is implied, not explicitly stated.)

3. Make it minimal but still clear:

   • Dinlerken not alıyorum. Daha iyi hatırlıyorum.
     → Two short sentences; very natural in speech.

What you cannot drop without changing the meaning:

• You cannot drop not or alıyorum without losing the idea of taking notes.
• You cannot drop dinlerken without losing “while listening”.

The most natural, fully explicit version remains:

• Dinlerken not alıyorum, böylece daha iyi hatırlıyorum.