Var / yok
Existence expressions: var (there is/I have) and yok (there isn't/I don't have)
Can express existence and possession using var/yok
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Arabam var ama param yok.
I have a car but I have no money.
Burada tuvalet var mı?
Is there a toilet here?
Zamanın var mı? — Hayır, zamanım yok.
Do you have time? — No, I don't have time.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Var = var (there is, exists, I have). Yok = yok (there isn't, doesn't exist, I don't have).
| Yapı | Anlam | Örnek |
|---|---|---|
| X var. | X exists / There is X | Su var. (There is water.) |
| X yok. | X doesn't exist / There is no X | Su yok. (There is no water.) |
| X-im var. | I have X | Arabam var. (I have a car.) |
| X-im yok. | I don't have X | Param yok. (I have no money.) |
Dikkat: Türkçe'de 'have' (sahip olmak) fiili günlük dilde nadiren kullanılır. Bunun yerine possessive + var/yok kullanılır!
Common Error Patterns
Used sahip olmak instead of possessive + var/yok
Daily Turkish: possessive suffix + var/yok, not sahip olmak
Arabam var ama param yok.
I have a car but I have no money.
arabam var / param yok: possessive + exists/doesn't exist.
Burada tuvalet var mı?
Is there a toilet here?
var mı: is there? (question particle mı).
Zamanın var mı? — Hayır, zamanım yok.
Do you have time? — No, I don't have time.
zamanın var mı / zamanım yok: your-time exists? / my-time doesn't.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises