العلامة على الورقة.

This is a nominal sentence in Arabic. In the present tense, Arabic often does not use a word for is/are.

So:

• العلامة على الورقة
• literally: the mark on the paper
• natural English: The mark is on the paper

The idea of is is understood automatically.

العلامة comes from the noun علامة, which can mean:

• mark
• sign
• symbol
• sometimes grade/score, depending on context

Here, in العلامة على الورقة, it most naturally means the mark or the sign.

Also note:

• علامة is a feminine noun
• that is why it ends with ـة (taaʾ marbuuṭa)

الـ is the Arabic definite article, meaning the.

So:

• علامة = a mark / mark
• العلامة = the mark

Since the sentence is talking about a specific mark, Arabic uses الـ.

على is a preposition meaning:

• on
• upon
• sometimes over, depending on context

In this sentence:

• على الورقة = on the paper

It shows location.

الورقة means the paper, while ورقة means a paper / paper sheet.

So:

• على ورقة = on a paper / on a sheet of paper
• على الورقة = on the paper

Using الورقة makes it definite: a specific paper is meant.

This is a nominal sentence made of:

• العلامة = the subject (مبتدأ)
• على الورقة = a prepositional phrase functioning as the predicate (خبر)

So the structure is:

• subject: العلامة
• predicate: على الورقة

Together: The mark is on the paper.

By itself, على الورقة does mean on the paper. But in the full sentence, it acts as the predicate, so the full meaning becomes:

• العلامة على الورقة
• The mark is on the paper

Arabic often leaves out the present-tense is, but English usually requires it.

Yes. على is a preposition, and prepositions in Arabic make the following noun genitive (مجرور).

So الورقة is grammatically in the genitive after على.

In fully vocalized Arabic, you would see:

• العلامةُ على الورقةِ

The ending ـِ on الورقةِ shows the genitive case.

In normal unvocalized writing, this case ending is usually not written.

A careful pronunciation is:

• al-ʿalāmah ʿalā al-waraqah

A few helpful notes:

• ع in علامة and على is the letter ʿayn, a sound that does not exist in English
• ة at the end of علامة and ورقة is pronounced like -ah when pausing
• الـ in الورقة is pronounced normally here, because و is a moon letter, not a sun letter

It can function as a complete sentence in Arabic:

• العلامة على الورقة.
• The mark is on the paper.

Because Arabic allows nominal sentences without is, this is complete.

But depending on context, it could also appear as part of a longer expression, like a heading or a sentence fragment. On its own, though, it is perfectly understandable as a full sentence.

Yes, but the meaning or emphasis may shift.

The basic order here is:

• العلامة على الورقة = The mark is on the paper

If you say:

• على الورقة العلامة

that can sound more marked or literary, with extra focus on on the paper.

For learners, the original order is the most straightforward and standard to use.

Both علامة and ورقة are feminine nouns, and one common clue is the ending ـة.

• علامة = feminine
• ورقة = feminine

In this sentence, that mostly matters for grammar in other contexts, such as when using adjectives or pronouns with these nouns. Here, it is mainly useful to recognize their gender for future agreement patterns.

You would usually remove الـ from العلامة:

• علامة على الورقة

This can mean a mark is on the paper or there is a mark on the paper, depending on context.

So compare:

• العلامة على الورقة = The mark is on the paper
• علامة على الورقة = A mark is on the paper / There is a mark on the paper

Arabic often relies on context more than English does for this kind of distinction.