Log inSign up

Tutanak masada.

Tutanak masada.
The minutes are on the table.
FromLesson 54inHardcore Turkish
……

Questions & Answers about Tutanak masada.

Why is there no copula is in Tutanak masada?
In Turkish simple present statements, the verb to be is normally omitted. You literally get “Tutanak masada” (Protocol on-the-table), but it’s understood as “Tutanak is on the table.”
What case is masada, and what does it express?
masada is the locative case of masa (table). The locative suffix -da (on/in/at) marks the location where something is happening or located—here, that the protocol is on the table.
Why is the locative suffix -da and not -de, -ta, or -te?

Turkish location suffixes follow two harmony rules:
• Consonant harmony: after a vowel you use d, after a voiceless consonant you use t.
• Vowel harmony: choose a, e, ı, or i to match the last vowel of the noun (back vs. front, rounded vs. unrounded).
Since masa ends in the vowel a, you attach d + a → -da.

How can I tell if tutanak is definite or indefinite?
Turkish has no articles like the or a. A bare noun can be definite or indefinite from context. In “Tutanak masada” it’s assumed you know which protocol you’re talking about (definite). If you meant “a protocol,” you’d say Bir tutanak masada.
How do I turn “Tutanak masada” into a yes/no question?

Add the question particle mı/mu/mü/mı after the locative phrase, matching vowel harmony. Here the last vowel is a, so you use mı:
Tutanak masada mı?
(“Is the protocol on the table?”)

How do I make it negative (“is not on the table”)?

Use değil after the locative:
Tutanak masada değil.
Literally “Protocol on-the-table not.”

Are there other ways to say “on the table” in Turkish?

Yes. A very common alternative is masanın üstünde:
• masanın = “of the table” (genitive)
• üstünde = “on top (locative)”
So Tutanak masanın üstünde also means “The protocol is on the table.”

More from this lesson

karşıArkadaşlarıma karşı saygı göstermek, ilişkilerimizin temeli.görünüşYeni görünüşünü beğendim; sade tarzın sana çok yakışıyor.belirlemekBaşarıya giden ilk adım, hedefini net bir şekilde belirlemektir.Elektrik tesisatındaki her bir eleman düzgün çalışmalı.Duvarı örmeden önce çimentoyu su ile karıştırdım.
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Turkish grammar?”
Turkish grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Turkish

Master Turkish — from Tutanak masada to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Turkish freeBrowse the full course