Learn Turkish: Diyet yapmak kolay değil. - Being on a diet is not easy.

Diyet yapmak kolay değil.

Being on a diet is not easy.

Breakdown of Diyet yapmak kolay değil.

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Questions & Answers about Diyet yapmak kolay değil.

Why is yapmak (to do) used here instead of a verb for "to be"?

In Turkish, the set phrase for "to be on a diet" or "to diet" is diyet yapmak, which literally translates to "to do a diet". Turkish frequently combines a noun with yapmak to create an action verb.

Why is the verb yapmak left in its dictionary (infinitive) form?

Here, diyet yapmak is the subject of the sentence, meaning "Dieting" or "Doing a diet". By using the infinitive -mak ending, you turn the verb into a noun phrase, allowing it to act as the main subject that you are describing.

Why doesn't the sentence end with a "to be" suffix like -dir?

In everyday Turkish, the third-person "is" suffix (-dir or -dır) is very often dropped. Saying kolay değil is a complete and natural way to say "is not easy", though you might see kolay değildir in more formal writing.

Could I use yok instead of değil for "not" in this sentence?

No, because yok means "there is not" or "does not have". When you want to negate a description or an adjective—like saying something is not easy, not hot, or not cheap—you must always use değil.