……
Questions & Answers about Kuralları ihlal etmek yasak.
Why is the word kuralları in the accusative case?
Because it’s the direct object of the verb phrase ihlâl etmek (to violate). In Turkish, a definite direct object takes the accusative. Here, kuralları means “the rules.”
- Morphology: kural (rule) + -lar (plural) + -ı (accusative) = kuralları.
- The whole subject of the sentence is the infinitive phrase Kuralları ihlal etmek (“to violate the rules”), within which the object still behaves like a normal object and gets accusative marking when definite.
Could kuralları also mean “his/her rules”? How do I tell?
Surface-form ambiguity exists. Kuralları can be:
- Accusative plural: “the rules” (as here).
- 3rd person possessive plural: “his/her rules.” You tell from context. If it meant “his/her rules,” you’d often see the possessor stated: onun kuralları. Also, if you put that possessed noun in the accusative, it becomes kurallarını.
Why is there no Turkish word for “is”? Why just yasak at the end?
Turkish uses a copular suffix instead of a separate “to be” verb, and in the simple present with third person it can be omitted. So:
- Kuralları ihlal etmek yasak. = “To violate the rules is forbidden.”
- You can also include the copula for formality/emphasis: yasaktır.
What’s the difference between yasak and yasaktır here?
Both mean “is forbidden.” Yasak (zero copula) is neutral and common in speech and informal writing. Yasaktır (with the copular suffix -dır/-dir/-dur/-dür realized here as -tır) is more formal, categorical, and common on signs/notices. Past/future forms take the suffix: yasaktı (was forbidden), yasak olacaktır (will be forbidden).
Is ihlâl etmek one verb? Why not ihlâl yapmak?
İhlâl etmek is a common “light verb” construction: Arabic-origin noun ihlâl (violation) + etmek (to do) = “to violate.” This is the standard collocation. You will also hear kural ihlali yapmak (“to commit a rule violation”), which is idiomatic. Plain ihlâl yapmak without the kural part sounds off; prefer ihlâl etmek or kural ihlali yapmak.
Can I use the verbal noun -me instead of the infinitive -mek? For example, Kuralları ihlal etme yasaktır?
Yes. Both are acceptable:
- Kuralları ihlal etmek yasaktır.
- Kuralları ihlal etme yasaktır. With -me, the phrase feels a bit more like “the act of violating the rules.” Note that etme can also look like a negative imperative (“don’t do it”), but here the predicate yasaktır makes it clearly a noun phrase.
Could I reorder the words, like İhlal etmek kuralları yasak?
No. The object must precede the verb within its clause: kuralları ihlâl etmek is a single unit functioning as the subject. You can, however, add adverbs before yasak:
- Kuralları ihlal etmek kesinlikle yasak(tır).
Why -ı (back, unrounded) in kuralları, not -i?
Vowel harmony. The last vowel in kural is a (back, unrounded), so the accusative takes the back, unrounded form -ı: kuralları. If the last vowel were front, you’d see -i/-ü/-u accordingly.
How do I say this more formally, with a passive?
Two common formal options:
- Kuralların ihlâl edilmesi yasaktır. (Genitive + passive + nominalization)
- Kurallar ihlâl edilemez. (“The rules cannot be violated.”) Both sound official/legal.
What are natural synonyms for ihlâl etmek in this context?
- Kuralları çiğnemek: very common, a bit more colloquial (“to break the rules”).
- Kurallara uymamak: “not to comply with the rules” (uses dative -a/-e with uymak). Avoid kuralları bozmak; it’s less idiomatic.
Why not say Kurallara ihlal etmek with dative -a/-e?
Because ihlâl etmek is a transitive verb taking a direct object (accusative), not a dative complement. Verbs govern different cases:
- ihlâl etmek
- accusative: kuralları ihlal etmek
- uymak
- dative: kurallara uymak
Is there any agreement with number or gender? Should yasak change because kurallar is plural?
No. Turkish has no grammatical gender, and predicate adjectives don’t agree in number or gender. Yasak stays the same regardless of singular/plural.
When would I use singular kuralı instead of plural kuralları?
Use singular if you mean one specific rule:
- Kuralı ihlal etmek yasak. = “Violating the rule is forbidden.” (rare unless a single rule has just been mentioned) Plural kuralları is the normal way to refer to “the rules” in general.
How do you pronounce ihlâl? What’s the deal with the circumflex?
It’s pronounced roughly like “ih-lahl.” The circumflex â often marks vowel length or palatalization in loanwords; many modern texts omit it (ihlal), and everyday pronunciation usually doesn’t strongly distinguish it. The h is pronounced.
How does this differ from a direct command like “Don’t violate the rules”?
- Impersonal prohibition (neutral/formal rule): Kuralları ihlal etmek yasak(tır).
- Direct command to the reader/listener: Kuralları ihlal etmeyin! (plural/formal you) or Kuralları ihlal etme! (singular informal). The first states a standing rule; the second addresses people directly.
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Turkish grammar?”
Turkish grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning TurkishMaster Turkish — from Kuralları ihlal etmek yasak to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions