Learn Hardcore Turkish: Telefonum toplantı sırasında donup duruyor, bu yüzden not alamıyorum. - My phone keeps freezing during the meeting, so I can’t take notes.

Breakdown of Telefonum toplantı sırasında donup duruyor, bu yüzden not alamıyorum.

Why is there no separate word for I in this sentence?

Turkish often drops subject pronouns when the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

In alamıyorum, the ending -um tells you the subject is I. So ben is unnecessary unless you want emphasis, contrast, or clarity.

(Ben) not alamıyorum = I can't take notes
Adding ben would sound more like I can't take notes, maybe unlike someone else.

What does telefonum literally mean?

Telefonum means my phone.

It breaks down like this:

So Turkish usually adds a possessive ending directly to the noun instead of always using a separate word like my.

You could also say benim telefonum, but benim is often omitted unless you want emphasis.

Why is it toplantı sırasında instead of just toplantıda?

They are similar, but not the same.

So toplantı sırasında focuses on the time period while the meeting is happening, not just the location or setting.

In this sentence, during the meeting fits better because the problem happens over the course of the meeting.