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Questions & Answers about Sözleşmede imza var.
What function does the suffix -de in sözleşmede perform?
The suffix -de is the Turkish locative case ending, equivalent to English “in,” “on,” or “at.” It attaches directly to sözleşme (“contract”), so sözleşmede means “in the contract.”
Why is it -de and not -da, -te, or -ta?
Turkish vowel harmony dictates the vowel in case suffixes based on the last vowel of the word. Sözleşme ends in the front unrounded vowel e, so the locative suffix also uses e. Consonant harmony keeps the voiced d rather than t.
Why is there no article before imza?
Turkish does not have a separate indefinite article like “a” or “an.” A bare noun with the existential verb var is automatically indefinite, so imza var translates simply as “there is a signature.”
What does var mean and how is it used?
Var is an invariant existential verb meaning “there is” or “there are.” It expresses existence and always comes at the end of the clause in Turkish.
Why is the word order Sözleşmede imza var instead of something like Var imza sözleşmede?
Turkish generally follows Subject-Object-Verb order, and locative phrases (like sözleşmede) typically precede the subject. In existential sentences, the noun (subject) precedes var, yielding [Location] [Subject] var.
How would I ask “Is there a signature in the contract?” in Turkish?
You add the question particle -mı after var, with proper spacing:
Sözleşmede imza var mı?
How do I express the negative, “There is no signature in the contract”?
Replace var with yok, its negative counterpart:
Sözleşmede imza yok.
Can I say bir imza var to mean “a signature is there”?
Yes, you can add bir for emphasis on singularity (“one signature”), but it’s often omitted because var already implies indefiniteness.