Questions & Answers about Sadece su istiyorum.
Why is there no word for 'I' in this sentence?
In Turkish, the subject pronoun is usually left out because the verb ending already tells us who is doing the action. The personal suffix -um on istiyorum means 'I'. You could say Ben sadece su istiyorum, but it is much more natural to drop the ben unless you want to add special emphasis.
Why is the verb istiyorum instead of 'isteiyorum'? Isn't the root for 'to want' iste-?
You are right that the root is iste-. However, there is a special spelling rule in Turkish for verbs ending in e or a. When you add the present continuous suffix -iyor to these verbs, that final vowel 'narrows' to match the suffix. Here, the e in iste- drops or changes to an i, making the word istiyorum.
Does istiyorum translate to 'I want' or 'I am wanting'?
It translates to both! Turkish frequently uses the present continuous tense (the -iyor suffix) for things happening right now and for verbs of state or feeling. Even though English prefers the simple present 'I want', Turkish naturally uses the continuous form for this verb.
Why does sadece come at the beginning of the sentence?
In Turkish, adverbs like sadece (only/just) generally go right before the word or concept they are modifying. By placing it right before su (water), you are clearly expressing that water is the only thing you want. Putting it after the water (Su sadece istiyorum) would sound unnatural.
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