Är underskriften äkta?

to be

Breakdown of Är underskriften äkta?

• underskriften: the signature
• äkta: genuine; authentic

Questions & Answers about Är underskriften äkta?

Why does the sentence start with är?

Because this is a yes/no question in Swedish. In main-clause yes/no questions, the finite verb usually comes first.

• Statement: Underskriften är äkta. = The signature is genuine.
• Question: Är underskriften äkta? = Is the signature genuine?

This is very similar to English is / are / do / does questions.

What does är mean, and what verb is it from?

Är means is / are / am, depending on context. It is a present-tense form of the verb vara, which means to be.

Examples:

• Jag är trött. = I am tired.
• Hon är här. = She is here.
• Är det sant? = Is that true?

So in Är underskriften äkta?, är means is.

Why is it underskriften and not just underskrift?

Underskriften is the definite form of underskrift.

• en underskrift = a signature
• underskriften = the signature

Swedish often puts the at the end of the noun as a suffix.

Here:

• underskrift
  • -en = underskriften

So the sentence is specifically asking about the signature, not just a signature.