-(y)se (ad cümlesi şartı)

Conditional of Nominal Sentences

Level 4

The conditional copula -(y)se attaches to nouns and adjectives to set a condition ('if') or to contrast two different subjects ('as for' / 'whereas').

How It Works

The -(y)se suffix is used to express real conditions or contrasts involving states. It is the cliticized form of the auxiliary verb ise (the 'i-' copula), which explains why it requires a buffer letter after vowels.

1. Formation:

  • After consonants: -sa / -se (e.g., açsa - if he is hungry)
  • After vowels: -ysa / -yse (e.g., hastaysa - if he is sick)

2. Stress (Accent):
Crucially, the -(y)se suffix is unaccented (non-stressable). It does not itself attract word stress. For an ordinarily final-stressed base such as hasta, the stress remains before the suffix: has-TA-ysa. A base with lexical nonfinal stress can retain that stress; do not treat the suffix as a command to move every word’s stress.

3. Real vs. Unreal Conditions:
When attached to nouns or adjectives, this pattern typically indicates a real or open condition (something that might actually be true). It is distinct from hypothetical or unreal conditions which often involve different verbal structures.

4. Person Endings:
The conditional suffix is followed by the person endings: -m, -n, ø, -k, -niz, -lar (e.g., mutluysam, mutluysan, mutluysa, mutluysak, mutluysanız, mutluysalar).

5. Third Person Plural Flexibility:
For the third person plural, the plural suffix can be placed either before or after the conditional marker: öğrencilerse or öğrenciyseler. However, if the subject onlar is explicitly stated, the plural suffix is often omitted: Onlar öğrenciyse.

6. Existentials (var/yok):
This suffix is very common with var and yok to mean 'if there is' (varsa) or 'if there isn't' (yoksa).

7. Emphasis with 'Eğer':
You can optionally start the sentence with eğer (if) for emphasis, but the -(y)se suffix on the noun or adjective is still required.

8. Contrastive Function:
Beyond 'if', ise can contrast two things (meaning 'whereas' or 'as for'). It can be written as a separate word (o ise) or as a suffix attached directly to the noun (Ahmet'se). When used as a suffix, it must follow vowel harmony rules.

9. Result Clauses:
The 'then' part of these conditional sentences typically uses the Aorist, the Future Tense, the Imperative, or the Necessity mood.

10. Negation:
To say 'if [subject] is NOT...', use the word değil followed by the suffix: Öğrenci değilse (If he is not a student).

Examples (6)

  1. Hava güzelse dışarı çıkalım.

    If the weather is nice, let's go out.

    Word by Word: Weather beautiful-if out let-us-go.

    Here, -(y)se is attached to the adjective 'güzel' (beautiful/nice) to set the condition.

  2. Eğer vaktin varsa bize uğra.

    If you have time, stop by our place.

    Word by Word: If time-your there-is-if to-us stop-by.

    The word eğer can be added for emphasis at the start, and the suffix attaches to var to mean 'if there is'.

  3. Müsaitseniz size gelmek istiyoruz.

    If you (plural/polite) are available, we want to come to your place.

    Word by Word: Available-if-you to-you to-come we-want.

    The suffix -seniz includes both the conditional marker and the second-person plural ending.

  4. Ali evde, Ayşe'yse okulda.

    Ali is at home, whereas Ayşe is at school.

    Word by Word: Ali home-at, Ayşe-as-for school-at.

    The contrastive marker can be attached as a suffix (Ayşe'yse) or written as a separate word (Ayşe ise). When suffixed, it follows vowel harmony.

  5. Para yoksa alışverişe gidemeyiz.

    If there is no money, we cannot go shopping.

    Word by Word: Money there-is-not-if to-shopping we-cannot-go.

    The suffix attaches to yok to form 'if there isn't'. The result clause often uses the ability or aorist forms.

  6. Öğrenciysen indirim alabilirsin.

    If you are a student, you can get a discount.

    Word by Word: Student-if-you discount you-can-take.

    A buffer -y- is used because 'öğrenci' ends in a vowel. The result clause uses the aorist ability form.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting the buffer -y- after a vowel.

    Arabasa binelim.
    Arabaysa binelim.

    If the word ends in a vowel (like 'araba'), you must use the buffer -y- before adding the conditional suffix -sa.

  • Using the wrong vowel harmony.

    Evsa gidelim.
    Evse gidelim.

    Turkish uses two-way vowel harmony for this suffix. Since 'ev' (house) has a front vowel 'e', the suffix must be -se, not -sa.

How It Connects

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-(y)se (ad cümlesi şartı)Level 4Conditional of Nominal Sentences

Learn This First

To understand the conditional of nominal sentences, you first need to be comfortable with how Turkish forms sentences using nouns and adjectives (nominal sentences). You also need to understand the basic conditional suffix (-se/-sa) and how the buffer consonant -y- is used to connect suffixes to words ending in vowels.

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Words in This Pattern

-sa