Learn Hardcore Turkish: Eşik yüksek olunca içeri girmek zorlaşıyor. - When the threshold is high, entering becomes difficult.

eşik means threshold or doorstep. Literally it’s the raised bar or step at the bottom of a door. Figuratively it can also mean a limit or barrier (for example ağrı eşiği = pain threshold).

What is the function of olunca in Eşik yüksek olunca? Can it be replaced with something else?

The suffix -ınca attaches to the verb stem ol- (to be) and means when/once. So olunca = when it is. You could replace it with olduğunda or olduğu zaman, but olunca is shorter and more conversational.

Why is the phrase içeri girmek used here? What does içeri do?

içeri girmek literally means to go inside. içeri is an adverb meaning inside/inwards, formed from iç (inside) + -eri. It tells you the direction of girmek (to enter). You could also say içeriye girmek, but içeri girmek is more common in spoken Turkish.

What does zorlaşmak mean, and how is it formed?

zorlaşmak means to become difficult. It’s built from the adjective zor (difficult) + the verb-forming suffix -laş- (to become) + the infinitive marker -mak.

Why is the verb zorlaşıyor in the present continuous form with -yor? Could another tense be used?

The -yor suffix indicates an ongoing or habitual action. Here it expresses a general truth: it (becomes) gets more difficult whenever the threshold is high. Depending on context you could use past (zorlaştı) or future (zorlaşacak), but zorlaşıyor keeps it as a current or repeated situation.

There’s no explicit subject in the sentence. Who or what is doing the action?

Turkish often omits the subject when it’s clear from the verb or when it’s impersonal. Zorlaşıyor here is an impersonal construction: “it becomes difficult.” The action refers to the process of entering, not a specific person.

Could the subordinate clause Eşik yüksek olunca come after the main clause?

Yes, but it’s less common. You could say İçeri girmek eşik yüksek olunca zorlaşıyor, but placing the time/condition clause first (Eşik yüksek olunca içeri girmek zorlaşıyor) is the usual word order.

Can we use iken instead of olunca, like Eşik yüksek iken?

Yes, iken means while/when and attaches to adjectives: Eşik yüksek iken içeri girmek zorlaşıyor. The nuance is slightly different: olunca focuses on the moment it becomes high, whereas iken describes the state of being high. Both are grammatically correct.