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Questions & Answers about Bu ad listede.
What does listede mean exactly?
It’s liste + -de. The suffix -de/-da is the locative case and means in/on/at, depending on context. With liste, the idiomatic English translation is “on the list.”
Why is there no word for “is” in Bu ad listede?
Turkish uses nominal sentences in the present tense: there’s no separate “to be” verb for third-person present. So Bu ad listede literally means “This name—on the list.”
Could/should it be listededir?
You can say Bu ad listededir by adding the evidential/confirmatory copula -dir. It sounds a bit more formal, definitive, or bookish than plain Bu ad listede.
How is -de in listede formed? Why not -te?
The locative is underlying -DA and adapts:
- After voiced sounds or vowels: -da/-de
- After voiceless consonants (ç, f, h, k, p, s, ş, t): -ta/-te Since liste ends in a vowel, you get -de → listede.
What’s the difference between Bu ad listede and Listede bu ad var?
Both are correct. Bu ad listede states the location of a specific item. Listede bu ad var uses var to assert existence (“There is this name on the list”), often focusing on the list’s contents.
Why ad and not isim?
Both mean “name.” Ad is Turkic-origin; isim is Arabic-origin. In everyday speech both are common; forms often use ad soyad (“name surname”), while casual talk often uses isim.
Why not adı?
Adı means “his/her/its name” (possessed form). Bu ad = “this name.” If you mean “His name is on the list,” say Onun adı listede.
How do I pronounce ad? Is it like at?
Word-final d often devoices in speech, so ad can sound like [at], but it’s written ad. When a vowel-initial suffix is added, the d resurfaces: adı (“name”), not atı (“his/its horse”).
What’s the difference between the suffix -de and the separate particle de/da (“too/also”)?
- Locative case: attached with no space and can be -de/-da/-te/-ta (e.g., listede, okulda, masada, parkta).
- “Too/also” particle: written separately (ben de) and never turns into te/ta. Compare bende (“on me/with me,” locative) vs ben de (“me too”).
Can I change the word order?
Yes. Listede bu ad is also possible and can sound like “On the list is this name,” often used for emphasis or contrast. Turkish word order is flexible; the focused/new information tends to be near the end.
How do I say “These names are on the list”?
- Bu adlar listede. / Bu isimler listede. In Turkish the predicate doesn’t have to show plural. With human subjects you may optionally add plural to the predicate (e.g., Öğrenciler buradalar), but with inanimate nouns like adlar, people usually keep it as listede.
How do I negate it?
Use değil for nominal negation: Bu ad listede değil.
For a yes/no negative question: Bu ad listede değil mi?
How do I ask “Is this name on the list?”
Use the question particle mi/ mı/ mu/ mü: Bu ad listede mi?
Note: mi is written separately and follows the word it questions; it obeys vowel harmony.
How do I say “to the list” and “from the list”?
- Dative (to): listeye (liste + y + e; buffer y because the stem ends in a vowel)
- Ablative (from): listeden
How do I say “the name on the list” (as a modifier)?
Use -ki to form a relative adjective: listedeki ad = “the name that is on the list.”
Example: Bu, listedeki bir ad.
Should I use bu, şu, or o here?
- bu: this (near the speaker)
- şu: that (near the listener or in view, somewhat farther)
- o: that (far from both, or previously mentioned/known) So Bu ad listede = “This name is on the list.”
Do I ever write an apostrophe with -de?
Only with proper nouns: Türkiye’de, Ankara’da. Common nouns take the suffix without an apostrophe: listede, okulda.