Masada karton var.

to be

Breakdown of Masada karton var.

• masa: the table
• karton: the cardboard

Questions & Answers about Masada karton var.

What does var mean in this sentence?

The word var is the existential verb “to exist,” similar to “there is/are” in English. It indicates that something exists in a particular place.

Why is there no article like a or some before karton?

Turkish does not require an indefinite article before nouns. “Masada karton var” naturally means “There is (some) cardboard on the table” without adding bir.

What role does bir play if I add it (“Masada bir karton var”)?

Adding bir specifies exactly one piece.

• Masada bir karton var = “There is one piece of cardboard on the table.”
  Without bir, the noun is still indefinite but not limited to exactly one.

Why is Masada used instead of masa?

Masada = masa (table) + -da (locative suffix), so it means “on the table.” Turkish uses case suffixes like -da to show location.

Why doesn’t karton take any suffix here?