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Questions & Answers about Ambargo devam ediyor.
Why is there no article equivalent to the or a before ambargo?
Turkish does not use articles like the, a, or an. Nouns stand alone, and definiteness is understood from context. So Ambargo devam ediyor can mean The embargo continues without adding any extra word.
Why isn’t ambargo marked with any case ending?
Here ambargo is the subject of the sentence and remains in the default nominative case, which takes no suffix. Only objects, locations, or possessive constructions would require case endings.
What’s going on with devam ediyor—is that one verb or two words?
It’s a compound verb: devam is a noun meaning continuation, and etmek is a light verb meaning to do. Together, devam etmek means to continue. In the present continuous tense: devam + ediyor (the conjugated form of etmek) = devam ediyor.
Why does etmek become ediyor and not etiyor when adding -iyor?
Turkish has consonant voicing assimilation. The final t in etmek voices to d before a vowel. So et + -iyor → ediyor.
What person and number is signaled by ediyor?
-iyor is the present continuous tense marker, and there is no explicit personal suffix after it for 3rd person singular. So ediyor automatically means he/she/it continues.
Why isn’t a pronoun like o (he/it) necessary here?
Turkish verbs include person information in their endings, so speakers usually drop the pronoun. Since ediyor already implies 3rd person singular, adding o would be redundant unless you want extra emphasis: O ambargo devam ediyor.
Could I say Ambargo sürüyor instead?
Yes. sürmek also means to continue in contexts like this. Ambargo sürüyor is more colloquial, while Ambargo devam ediyor is neutral to slightly formal.
How would I form the negative?
Insert the negation suffix -m before -iyor:
• Positive: devam ediyor
• Negative: devam etmiyor
So Ambargo devam etmiyor = The embargo is not continuing.
How do I ask Is the embargo still ongoing?
Add the question particle -mu (with a space) after the verb: Ambargo devam ediyor mu?
Literally: Em-bargo con-tin-ues Q? = Is the embargo continuing?
What’s the difference between devam ediyor and devam etmekte?
devam etmekte uses the archaic/formal progressive suffix -mekte, common in written or legal language. devam ediyor is the everyday present continuous used in speech and most writing.