Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Turkish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Saat masanın üstünde.
Why are we using masanın üstünde instead of just masada to say "on the table"?
Masada simply means "at" or "on" the table in a general sense. Masanın üstünde literally means "at the table's top space". We use these spatial words (like üstünde for "on", altında for "under") when we want to be specific about exactly where an object is located.
What is the -nın doing at the end of masanın?
It is the genitive (possessive) suffix, which works like the English "'s". To use spatial words in Turkish, you form a possessive relationship. You literally say "at the table's top". So, masa (table) gets the suffix to become masanın (table's).
Can you break down the parts of the word üstünde?
Sure! It is made of üst (top) + -ü (possessive suffix meaning "its") + -n- (a buffer letter used before adding a location suffix) + -de (the locative suffix meaning "at" or "on"). Together, it means "at its top".
I learned that saat means "hour". Why is it translated as "watch"?
Saat is a very useful word that can mean "hour", "time", "clock", or "watch". Because it is an object sitting on a table in this sentence, "watch" or "clock" makes the most sense.