Breakdown of Demek ki o meşgul, öyle varsayıyoruz.
o
that / he / she / it
meşgul
busy
öyle
like that, so
demek ki
so / it means that
Questions & Answers about Demek ki o meşgul, öyle varsayıyoruz.
Why do we use 'demek ki' instead of just 'demek' here?
The phrase demek ki translates to 'that means' or 'so it means that'. While demek on its own means 'to say' or 'meaning', adding the conjunction ki (that) turns it into a logical inference. You use it to introduce a conclusion you just figured out based on some evidence.
How is the verb 'varsayıyoruz' formed?
It is a compound verb made from var (existent) and saymak (to count or consider). Literally, it means 'we count as existing', which is how Turkish expresses 'we assume'. Here, it takes the first-person plural present continuous ending -ıyoruz.
What is the purpose of 'öyle' in the second half of the sentence?
In this context, öyle means 'so' or 'like that'. Just as we say 'we assume so' in English to avoid repeating the whole idea, Turkish uses öyle to refer back to the fact that he is busy. Saying just varsayıyoruz by itself would feel like it is missing an object.
Does 'demek ki' always have to be at the beginning of the sentence?
It almost always comes at the beginning of the specific clause it introduces. Because it sets up a deduction, it needs to come right before the conclusion you are drawing, very similar to how we use 'So,...' or 'That means...' in English.