Giving, taking and drawing: vermek, almak, çekmek

Three more light verbs

Beside etmek and yapmak, Turkish builds everyday expressions with vermek (to give), almak (to take) and çekmek (to pull).

vermek — giving something up or out

karar vermek is to decide (literally to give a decision), mola vermek to take a break, and kilo vermek to lose weight. Note that English takes a break and a decision where Turkish gives them — the light verb does not translate.

almak — taking in

kilo almak is the mirror of kilo vermek: to put on weight. not almak is to take notes and izin almak to get permission, from the noun izin.

çekmek — pulling

Both are pulling in Turkish: you pull the picture out of the scene and the cash out of the machine.

Finally söz means word — and söz vermek, which you already know, is literally to give one's word.