Duvarda pas var.

to be

Breakdown of Duvarda pas var.

• duvar: the wall
• -da: on
• pas: the rust

Questions & Answers about Duvarda pas var.

What does Duvarda pas var literally mean, and how is it used?

Literally it means “On the wall rust there is,” which corresponds to English “There is rust on the wall.” In Turkish existential sentences, you state the location first (with a locative suffix), then the thing that exists, and end with var (“there is”).

What is the function of the suffix -da in duvarda?

The suffix -da marks the locative case, indicating the place where something exists. So duvar (“wall”) + -da = duvarda, “on the wall.”

Why is there no article before pas?

Turkish does not use definite or indefinite articles like “the” or “a/an.” Instead, existence is shown with var (“there is/are”). You simply say pas var for “there is rust,” without adding an article.

What kind of verb is var, and why does it appear at the end?

Var is an existential verb meaning “there is/there are.” Turkish is a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) language, so verbs usually come at the end of the sentence.

Why isn’t pas marked with a case ending?