aq... sa

Correlative Result 'Aq... Sa'

Level 3

The pattern aq... sa connects an intense quality or action (the cause) with a specific outcome (the result). It is the standard way to say 'so [adjective/adverb] that [result]' in Albanian.

How It Works

The correlative aq... sa is essential for expressing cause-and-effect relationships in Standard Albanian.

1. Usage with Adjectives and Adverbs:
When modifying a quality, aq precedes the adjective or adverb. Note that if an adjective requires a linking article, it remains in place.
Example: Ishte aq i lodhur, sa e zuri gjumi. (He was so tired that he fell asleep.)

2. Usage with Verbs:
When modifying an action, aq is often followed by shumë (much) or pak (little) to quantify the intensity of the verb.
Example: Punoi aq shumë, sa u sëmur. (He worked so much that he got sick.)

3. Mood Selection:
In most cases, the clause following sa uses the Indicative mood because it describes a factual, realized result. However, if the result is a potential or intended outcome rather than a fact, the subjunctive mood (using të) may be used.

4. Distal vs. Proximal (Aq vs. Kaq):
While aq is the general distal form ('that much'), you will often see kaq used for proximal intensity ('this much'). Kaq is used when the intensity is immediate, visible, or currently being experienced by the speaker.

Examples (4)

  1. Deti ishte aq i trazuar, sa anijet nuk dolën në lundrim.

    The sea was so rough that the ships did not go out to sail.

    Word by Word: The-sea was so [linking-article] rough, that the-ships not went-out in sailing.

    Here 'aq' intensifies the adjective 'i trazuar' (rough), and 'sa' introduces the factual result.

  2. Fliste aq shpejt, sa nuk e kuptonim dot.

    He spoke so fast that we couldn't understand him at all.

    Word by Word: He-spoke so fast, that not him understood [particle].

    In this case, 'aq' modifies the adverb 'shpejt' (fast).

  3. Ishte kaq ftohtë, sa uji ngriu menjëherë.

    It was so cold (here/now) that the water froze immediately.

    Word by Word: It-was so cold, that the-water froze immediately.

    Using 'kaq' instead of 'aq' emphasizes that the coldness is immediate or currently felt by the speaker.

  4. Qeshi aq shumë, sa u mek.

    He laughed so much that he lost his breath.

    Word by Word: He-laughed so much, that [reflexive] lost-breath.

    When used with a verb, 'aq' is paired with 'shumë' to show the intensity of the action.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the subjunctive 'të' for factual results.

    Different MeaningIshte aq i nxehtë sa të mos e prekja dot.
    Ishte aq i nxehtë sa nuk e prekja dot.

    'Ishte aq i nxehtë sa të mos e prekja dot' is also correct: the subjunctive presents the result as a degree of the heat. For a plain fact that actually happened, the indicative is more usual, as in the right sentence.

  • Leaving out 'aq' before the adjective.

    Different MeaningIshte i lodhur sa e zuri gjumi.
    Ishte aq i lodhur sa e zuri gjumi.

    'Aq... sa' is the full pair for 'so... that'. Dropping 'aq' is heard in casual speech, but the full pair is clearer.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

aq... saLevel 3Correlative Result 'Aq... Sa'

Learn This First

To learn the correlative result construction 'aq... sa', learners must first understand the quantifier 'sa' (how much/many) and the adverb of degree 'aq' (so much/that much), which are also used in basic comparisons of equality. Additionally, familiarity with general subordinating conjunctions is necessary to structure the main and result clauses correctly.

Words in This Pattern

aq saaq