-maqdan/-məkdən

Ablative Infinitive

Level 4

The ablative infinitive (-maqdan/-məkdən) marks an action as the source or reason for something else. It is commonly used for 'tired of,' 'afraid of,' or 'because of' doing something.

How It Works

The ablative infinitive is a high-frequency pattern in Azerbaijani used in four primary ways:

1. Cause or Reason: It explains why a certain state exists. In English, this is often 'from' or 'because of.'
Example: Gözləməkdən yoruldum (I am tired from waiting).

2. Verbal Requirements: Certain verbs specifically require their object to be in the ablative case. These include verbs of fear, avoidance, or refusal:

  • qorxmaq (to be afraid of)
  • çəkinmək (to refrain from)
  • imtina etmək (to refuse/decline)
  • bezmək (to be fed up with)

3. With Postpositions: It is used with the postposition başqa to mean 'besides' or 'other than doing something.'

4. Comparison: When used with the conditional particle -sa/-sə, it creates the meaning 'rather than' or 'instead of' (-maqdansa / -məkdənsə).

Important Distinction: Do not confuse this with the -madan/-mədən suffix. While they look similar, -maqdan indicates a cause or object, whereas -madan means 'without doing.'

Morphology:
Unlike the dative infinitive, the final -q or -k of the infinitive does not change because the suffix starts with a consonant (d). It follows 2-way vowel harmony:

  • -maqdan: After back vowels (a, ı, o, u)
  • -məkdən: After front vowels (e, ə, i, ö, ü)

Examples (6)

  1. Qışqırmaqdan səsim tutuldu.

    I lost my voice from shouting.

    Word by Word: Shouting-from my-voice was-caught.

    Here, the action of shouting is the direct cause of the voice being lost.

  2. Soruşmaqdan qorxma.

    Do not be afraid of asking.

    Word by Word: Asking-from fear-not.

    The verb 'qorxmaq' (to fear) always requires the ablative case on the thing being feared.

  3. Eyni şeyi hər gün deməkdən bezmişəm.

    I am fed up with saying the same thing every day.

    Word by Word: Same thing every day saying-from I-have-become-fed-up.

    The verb 'bezmək' indicates being tired of or fed up with a repetitive action.

  4. Yalan danışmaqdan çəkinir.

    He refrains from telling lies.

    Word by Word: Lie speaking-from he-refrains.

    The verb 'çəkinmək' (to refrain/avoid) requires the ablative case.

  5. Evdə oturmaqdansa, gəzək.

    Instead of sitting at home, let's walk.

    Word by Word: Home-at sitting-from-if, let's-walk.

    Adding -sa/-sə to the ablative infinitive creates a comparison meaning 'rather than'.

  6. Oxumaqdan başqa heç nə etmirəm.

    I do nothing besides reading.

    Word by Word: Reading-from besides nothing I-do-not.

    The postposition başqa (besides/other than) requires the preceding noun or infinitive to be in the ablative case.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Turkish 't' spelling (-maktan/-mekten).

    Oxumaktan yoruldum.
    Oxumaqdan yoruldum.

    In Azerbaijani, the 'd' in the ablative suffix does not harden to 't' after the 'q' or 'k' of the infinitive.

  • Confusing the ablative infinitive with the negative converb.

    O, yemək yeməkdən getdi.
    O, yemək yemədən getdi.

    Learners often confuse -maqdan (from doing) with -madan (without doing). Use -madan when you mean 'without' and -maqdan for cause or verbal requirements.

How It Connects

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

-maqdan/-məkdənLevel 4Ablative Infinitive

Learn This First

To understand the ablative infinitive, you must first be familiar with the basic infinitive form of verbs (-maq/-mək) and how the ablative case (-dan/-dən) is used to indicate source, cause, or comparison.

Words in This Pattern

-mək-dən