Learn Hardcore Turkish: Masada kitabınız var mı?

masa-da: masa = table + locative suffix -da (“at/on/in”).
kitab-ınız: kitap = book → consonant softening p→b + possessive suffix -ınız (“your,” polite singular or plural).
var: “there is/are.”
mı: yes/no question particle (written separately), harmonized here as mı. Overall structure: [Location] + [Possessed noun] + [existential] + [question particle].

Why is it masada and not something else? What does -da mean?

-da/-de is the locative suffix (“at/on/in”), chosen by vowel harmony:

After back vowels (a, ı, o, u): -da
After front vowels (e, i, ö, ü): -de Also, after a voiceless consonant you get -ta/-te (e.g., parkta “in the park”). Because masa ends with a vowel and its last vowel is back (a), you get masa-da.

What does kitabınız tell me about “you”?

-ınız/-iniz/-unuz/-ünüz marks “your” for:

Polite singular “you” (speaking respectfully to one person), or
Plural “you” (talking to more than one person). So kitabınız means “your book” with polite/plural “you.”

Why does kitap become kitab-?

When a vowel-initial suffix is added, certain final consonants soften:

p → b, t → d, k → ğ/g, ç → c So kitap + -ınız → kitabınız. You’ll see the same in kitap + -ı → kitabı (“the book/his book,” depending on context).

What is mı, and why is it written separately? Why is it specifically mı here?

mı/mi/mu/mü is the yes/no question particle. It is written as a separate word but phonologically clings to the preceding word and takes its vowel by harmony:
- After a/ı → mı
- After e/i → mi
- After o/u → mu
- After ö/ü → mü Because it follows var (last vowel a), it becomes mı. It sits immediately after the predicate/focus.

Why use var? Why not a verb like “to be”?

Turkish uses var (“there is/are”) to express existence/presence. In present-tense equational sentences there’s no overt “to be,” but for existence you say var (and its negative counterpart yok). This sentence literally asks whether your book exists at that location.

Can I also say Kitabınız masada mı? What’s the difference?

Yes. Two common ways:

Masada kitabınız var mı? checks for existence of your book at that spot (Is there your book on the table?).
Kitabınız masada mı? checks the location of a book presumed to exist (Is your book on the table?). Both are natural; the second focuses on location (predicate = masada), the first on existence (predicate = var).

What’s the difference between masada and masanın üstünde/üzerinde?

masada often corresponds to English “on the table,” but is a general locative (“at/on”).
masanın üstünde/üzerinde literally “on top of the table,” more explicit about being on the surface. Structure: masa-nın (genitive) + üst-ün-de/üzer-in-de (top/surface + its + locative).

How would I say this informally to one person?

Use the informal 2nd-person possessive:

Masada kitabın var mı? (“Is your book on the table?” addressed to a friend.) Polite/plural stays kitabınız.

How do I ask about plural “books”?

Add the plural before the possessive:

Masada kitaplarınız var mı? or Kitaplarınız masada mı? Note: kitaplar-ınız = “your books.” Without -lar, kitabınız means one book.

How do I ask “Is there a (any) book on the table?” without “your”?

Masada kitap var mı? (Is there a book on the table?) Adding bir can stress “a single” book:
Masada bir kitap var mı? (Is there a/one book on the table?)

Why not use the accusative (-ı/i/u/ü) on kitabınız here?

Existential var/yok takes a nominative noun phrase. You do NOT mark the thing that exists with accusative in var/yok sentences. Accusative is for definite direct objects of transitive verbs, e.g.:

Masada kitabınızı gördüm. (I saw your book on the table.)

How do I negate or answer this kind of question?

Negative of var is yok (not değil):
- Hayır, yok. (No, there isn’t.)
- Evet, var. (Yes, there is.) Full answers:
Evet, kitabım/kitabımız masada.
Hayır, masada yok. / Hayır, kitap odada.

Can I drop mı and just use rising intonation?

In standard Turkish, yes/no questions use the particle. Masada kitabınız var? is typically an echo/surprise (“Your book is on the table?!”), not a neutral question. Use mı for ordinary questions.

Where is the stress/intonation?

In yes/no questions, main stress typically falls on the question particle:

ma-sa-DA ki-ta-bı-NIZ VAR MI? → strong pitch on mı.
You’ll also hear a final rise in intonation.

Can I add sizin? Does it change the meaning?

You can add the pronoun for emphasis/contrast:

Masada sizin kitabınız var mı? (Is it your book—rather than someone else’s—that is on the table?) Without sizin, kitabınız already means “your book.” The pronoun just adds emphasis.

Are there past or more formal variants?

Past: Masada kitabınız var mıydı? (Was your book on the table?)
Formal/polite or rhetorical: Masada kitabınız var mıdır? (Is your book on the table, would you say?)
Both are grammatically correct; choose based on context and tone.