Toplantı başlamadan önce telefonu sessize almakta fayda var.

Başlamadan önce means before it starts / before starting.

It is built from:

• başla- = to start, to begin
• -madan / -meden = without doing or, in many contexts with önce, before doing
• önce = before

So:

• başlamadan = without starting / before starting
• başlamadan önce = before it starts

In this sentence, the subject of başlamak is toplantı (the meeting), so the full idea is before the meeting starts.

Because toplantı is the subject of başlamak.

The verb başlamak is intransitive: things start, but you do not usually start something with this verb in the same structure. So here:

• toplantı başlamak = the meeting starts

That means toplantı stays in its basic form, with no accusative ending.

Compare:

• Toplantı başladı. = The meeting started.
• Toplantıyı başlattı. = He/she started the meeting.

In your sentence, the meeting is the thing that starts by itself, so toplantı is correct.

The -u is the accusative case ending, used for a specific direct object.

• telefon = a phone / phone in general
• telefonu = the phone / the phone in question

In this sentence, the speaker is talking about a specific, understood phone — usually your phone or one’s phone in a general advice sense.

So:

• telefonu sessize almak = to put the phone on silent
• telefon sessize almak would not sound correct in standard Turkish

This is very common in Turkish when giving advice about something specific but understood from context.

Literally, it is something like to take into silence.

Parts:

• sessiz = silent
• sessize = into silent / to silent mode
  
  • this uses the dative ending -e
• almak = to take

But as a whole, sessize almak is a natural Turkish expression meaning:

• to put on silent
• to set to silent mode
• to silence

So the sentence is not about physically taking the phone somewhere. It is an idiomatic expression about changing the phone’s mode.

Because Turkish often uses the dative case to show a change into a state or direction toward something.

Here:

• sessiz = silent
• sessize = into silent mode / to silent

The idea is similar to English expressions like:

• turn it to silent
• set it to vibrate

So telefonu sessize almak means to put the phone into silent mode.

-makta fayda var is a very common pattern meaning:

• it is useful to...
• it is a good idea to...
• it is advisable to...
• you’d better...

So:

• telefonu sessize almakta fayda var = it’s a good idea to put the phone on silent

This is softer and more polite than a direct command. It sounds like advice rather than an order.

Both are possible in Turkish, but they are different styles.

• Telefonu sessize almakta fayda var.
  = It’s a good idea to put the phone on silent.
• Telefonu sessize almak faydalı.
  = Putting the phone on silent is useful.

The version with -makta fayda var is a very common set phrase for giving advice. It often feels more natural in everyday Turkish when you mean you should probably do this.

So fayda var here is not just describing a fact; it is functioning like a polite recommendation.

It looks similar, but here it is best understood as part of the fixed expression -makta fayda var.

You may know forms like:

• gitmektedir = he/she is going

That -makta is related in form, but in this sentence:

• almakta fayda var

the whole chunk works as an idiomatic pattern meaning there is benefit in doing X.

So for a learner, the easiest and most useful approach is to memorize:

• -makta fayda var = it’s a good idea to...

rather than trying to interpret -makta literally every time.

Turkish often leaves the subject unstated when it is obvious or general.

In advice sentences like this, the implied subject is usually:

• you
• people in general
• one

So the sentence naturally means something like:

• You should put your phone on silent before the meeting starts.
• It’s a good idea to put one’s phone on silent before the meeting starts.

Turkish does this very often, especially in general advice, instructions, and everyday speech.

Yes, absolutely.

• Toplantıdan önce = before the meeting
• Toplantı başlamadan önce = before the meeting starts

The second version is a little more explicit and event-focused. It emphasizes the moment before the meeting begins.

So:

• Toplantıdan önce... = before the meeting
• Toplantı başlamadan önce... = before the meeting starts

Both are natural, but başlamadan önce gives a slightly more precise sense of timing.

A fairly literal breakdown is:

• Toplantı başlamadan önce = before the meeting starts
• telefonu sessize almakta = in putting the phone on silent
• fayda var = there is benefit

So, very literally:

Before the meeting starts, there is benefit in putting the phone on silent.

Natural English would usually be:

• It’s a good idea to put your phone on silent before the meeting starts.
• You should put your phone on silent before the meeting starts.

This is a good example of how Turkish often uses existence structures like ... var where English prefers it is a good idea...