Locative and possessive existentials

Existential sentences with var ‘exist’ and yok ‘non-exist’ are used to express ‘there is…’ and ‘there isn't’ in English. They are typically used with locative adverbials in such sentences.

1. İstanbul'da çok Japon turist var.

2. ‘There are a lot of Japanese tourists in İstanbul.’

3. Bende hiç para yok.

4. ‘There is no money on me.’

Here is the structure with more examples:

1. Noun-locative + Noun + var / yok

2. Arabada bir köpek var.

3. ‘There is a dog in the car.’

4. Bahçede iki kiraz ağacı var.

5. ‘There are two cherry trees in the garden.’

6. Masada su bardağı yok.

7. ‘There isn't a water glass on the table.’

8. Bu kafede Türk kahvesi yok.

9. ‘There isn't Turkish coffee in this café.’

Another meaning conveyed with var/yok is the possessive ‘I have…’ In such structures, a genitive-possessive combination is used together with var/yok:

1. Benim iki kızım var.

2. ‘I have two daughters.’

3. Aynur'un kırmızı bir arabası var.

4. ‘Aynur has a red car.’

5. Bu odanın kliması yok.

6. ‘This room does not have AC.’

7. Bu otelin çok güzel deniz manzarası var.

8. ‘This hotel has a very nice sea view.’

9. Bu kedilerin annesi yok.

10. ‘These cats do not have a mother.’