Learn Hardcore Turkish: Başarıdaki gizli faktör çalışmaktır.

The suffix -daki is a combination of the locative -de (meaning "in" or "at") and the relative adjective -ki (indicating "that which is in" or "related to"). In Başarıdaki, it turns başarı (success) into an adjective meaning "in success" or "pertaining to success." This construction helps form the phrase "the secret factor in success."

Why is the sentence using çalışmaktır instead of just çalışmak?

In Turkish, when stating a general truth or definition, it is common to attach a copulative suffix—here, -maktır—to an infinitive. The base verb çalışmak means "to work," and by adding -maktır, it becomes a nominalized predicate meaning "is working." This construction clearly expresses that working is being identified as the secret factor.

How is the sentence structured in terms of subject and predicate?

The sentence Başarıdaki gizli faktör çalışmaktır. is a typical equational sentence. The phrase Başarıdaki gizli faktör acts as the subject, meaning "the secret factor in success," and çalışmaktır serves as the predicate, indicating what that factor is. Together, they form the statement that working is the underlying key to success.

How do we handle the translation given that Turkish does not use articles like "the"?

Turkish nouns do not employ articles, so phrases like Başarıdaki gizli faktör lack an equivalent of "the" in the original. When translating into English, we add "the" for clarity and natural expression. Thus, the sentence is rendered as "The secret factor in success is working."

Does çalışmaktır imply merely “working” or can it be interpreted as “hard work”?

Although çalışmaktır literally translates as "working is," in context it is often understood to emphasize the value of diligent, sustained effort—what we typically describe as "hard work." The sentence underscores that the act of working (implying consistent effort) is the key element to achieving success.