Questions & Answers about Bu çocuk spor yapmıyor.
How does the word yapmıyor mean "is not doing"?
The base verb is yapmak (to do). We take the root yap- and add the negative suffix -mı-, followed by the present continuous suffix -yor. So, yap- (do) + -mı- (not) + -yor (is happening now) gives us yapmıyor.
Why is the negative suffix -mı- instead of -ma-?
The standard negative suffix is -ma or -me. However, the present continuous suffix -yor has a strong effect that narrows the vowel before it. The a in the standard negative suffix narrows to ı to match the vowel harmony of the root yap-, making it yapmıyor.
Why is the verb yapmak (to do) used here instead of a word for "play"?
In Turkish, the general activity of exercising or participating in sports is expressed with spor yapmak (to do sports). You only use oynamak (to play) when talking about a specific game with rules, like futbol oynamak (to play football).
Why isn't there a personal suffix at the very end of yapmıyor?
The subject of this sentence is bu çocuk (this child), which is the third person singular (he/she/it). In Turkish, the third person singular does not take an extra personal suffix at the end of the verb.
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