Asking "How many" with "kaç"
To ask how many of something there are in a specific place, use the question word kaç (how many). The sentence structure is exactly the same as a standard statement using the locative case and var, just with kaç inserted right before the item.
Crucial rule: In Turkish, the noun that immediately follows kaç is always singular. You never add plural endings to it.
| How many passengers are on the bus? | Otobüste kaç yolcu var? |
| How many plates are on the table? | Masada kaç tabak var? |
Answering with numbers
To answer a "how many" question, simply replace the word kaç with the specific number. Just as with the question word, any noun following a number must also remain in its singular form.
| There are forty passengers on the bus. | Otobüste kırk yolcu var. |
| There are ten plates on the table. | Masada on tabak var. |
| How many floors are in the building? | Binada kaç kat var? |
| There are eight floors in the building. | Binada sekiz kat var. |
Answering with "çok" or "hiç"
If you don't know the exact number, you can swap out the number for a quantity word like çok (many / a lot). Alternatively, if the answer is zero, you can use hiç alongside yok (there is not), just as you practiced in the previous lesson.
| How many books are in the library? | Kütüphanede kaç kitap var? |
| There are many books in the library. | Kütüphanede çok kitap var. |
| How many bottles are in the box? | Kutuda kaç şişe var? |
| There are no bottles in the box. | Kutuda hiç şişe yok. |
Counting physical items with "tane"
When stating a specific number of physical objects, Turkish speakers often insert the word tane (piece / item) between the number and the noun. It translates roughly to "items of" and is completely optional, but using it sounds very natural in everyday speech.
| How many jackets are in the closet? | Dolapta kaç ceket var? |
| There are two jackets in the closet. | Dolapta iki tane ceket var. |