-dan/-dən (çıxışlıq hal)

Ablative Case

Level 2

The ablative case (çıxışlıq hal) marks the starting point of an action, the source of an object, or the reason for a feeling. It is also the essential tool for making comparisons in Azerbaijani.

How It Works

The ablative case is one of the six noun cases in Azerbaijani. Its primary functions include:

  • Source/Origin: Showing where someone or something is coming from (e.g., Bakıdan - from Baku).
  • Comparison: The noun being compared against takes this case (e.g., səndən böyük - older than you).
  • Cause: Explaining the reason for an emotion or state (e.g., qorxudan - out of fear).
  • Partitive: Indicating a part of a group (e.g., onlardan biri - one of them).

Phonology:
1. Follows vowel harmony (2-way).
2. Consonant stability: Even after voiceless consonants like 's' or 't', the suffix remains -dan/-dən (e.g., avtobusdan).
3. Buffer 'n': If the noun has a third-person possessive suffix, you must use a buffer n before adding the case marker (e.g., atasından).

Examples (5)

  1. Mən məktəbdən gəlirəm.

    I am coming from school.

    Word by Word: I school-from coming-am.

    Here, -dən indicates the physical starting point of the movement.

  2. Bu kitab o birindən maraqlıdır.

    This book is more interesting than that one.

    Word by Word: This book that one-from interesting-is.

    In comparisons, the object being compared against takes the ablative case.

  3. Uşaq qaranlıqdan qorxur.

    The child is afraid of the dark.

    Word by Word: Child dark-from fears.

    The verb 'qorxmaq' (to fear) always requires the ablative case for the source of fear.

  4. Onun evindən gəlirik.

    We are coming from his house.

    Word by Word: His house-his-n-from coming-we.

    Note the buffer 'n' between the possessive suffix '-i' and the ablative '-dən'.

  5. Dərsdən sonra görüşərik.

    We will meet after the lesson.

    Word by Word: Lesson-from after meet-will-we.

    The postposition 'sonra' (after) always governs the ablative case.

Common Mistakes

  • Using -tan/-tən after voiceless consonants (Turkish influence).

    Mən avtobustan düşdüm.
    Mən avtobusdan düşdüm.

    In Azerbaijani, the suffix remains -dan/-dən regardless of whether the preceding consonant is voiced or voiceless.

  • Forgetting the buffer 'n' after 3rd person possessives.

    Onun maşınıdan düşdüm.
    Onun maşınından düşdüm.

    When a word ends in a 3rd person possessive suffix, an 'n' must be inserted before any case suffix starting with a consonant or vowel.

How It Connects

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-dan/-dən (çıxışlıq hal)Level 2Ablative Case

Learn This First

To learn the ablative case (-dan/-dən), you need to understand two-way vowel harmony to choose the correct suffix variant and be familiar with the base form of nouns.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

And 8 more in the full list.

Words in This Pattern

-dən