Learn Hardcore Turkish: Gayret olmadan başarı elde etmek zordur. - Without effort, achieving success is difficult.

Gayret olmadan literally means “without effort.” It’s formed by taking the noun gayret (effort) and pairing it with the negative participle form olmadan, derived from the verb olmak (to be). This construction functions adverbially to indicate that the following action is done in the absence of effort.

How does the compound verb phrase başarı elde etmek work?

In this phrase, başarı means “success” and elde etmek means “to achieve” or “to obtain.” Together, they form a compound verb expression meaning “to achieve success.” In Turkish, combining a noun with a verb like elde etmek is a common way to express the idea of attaining or obtaining something.

What role does zordur play at the end of the sentence?

Zordur translates to “is difficult.” It serves as an impersonal predicate, asserting that achieving success under the condition mentioned (without effort) is challenging. Turkish often uses such impersonal constructions to state general truths without a specific subject.

Could this idea be expressed using a slightly different structure in Turkish?

Yes, an alternative structure could be Gayretsiz başarının elde edilmesi zordur. This version uses the adjective gayretsiz (“effortless” or “without effort”) to modify başarının (“of success”), followed by elde edilmesi (“being achieved”) and culminates with zordur (“is difficult”). Both structures convey the same meaning, though the original sentence is more idiomatic.