Burada (bir) benzinci var mı?

[𐎀𐎐𐎒𐎚𐎒𐎊 𐎎𐎐𐎇𐎋𐎆]

Merhaba!

There are two translations for "Is there a gas station here?"

Burada benzinci var mı?
Burada bir benzinci var mı?

What's the difference between them? I think the second one is wrong because there is no need to add the indefinite article.

Thank you.

 

[drowsykush]

Both are correct, but adding "bir" does change the tone of the question. The first one is more typical and feels more natural.

 

[Ali Smith]

Both are correct, but adding "bir" does change the tone of the question. The first one is more typical and feels more natural.

How does bir change the tone of the question?

 

[drowsykush]

The question "burada benzinci var mı?" asks if there is a gas station nearby with a more direct tone, while "burada bi' benzinci var mı?" conveys a friendlier and less formal manner of speaking. (bi is the elided form of bir in colloquial speech)

These two questions do not differ semantically from one another, but I can also provide an example of a situation in which the use of bir differs.

Consider the followings:

1.
tr: "burada bi' benzinci varmış, nerede olduğunu biliyor musunuz acaba?" (unsure of the location)

en: "I heard there might be a gas station around here, do you happen to know its exact location?"

Note that the word bir can be used in Turkish to indicate indefinite or non-specific reference to something. Also, varmış implies that it was heard from someone.

2.
tr: "burada benzinci varmış, baksana!" (sure of the location)
en: "hey look, there's a gas station here!"

Here varmış carries the meaning of surprise or excitement, and bir is not added because the gas station is right in front of their eyes.

The first example is a question seeking information, while the second is an attention to the presence of a gas station.

 

[𐎀𐎐𐎒𐎚𐎒𐎊 𐎎𐎐𐎇𐎋𐎆]

Thanks