-ma/-mə (hərəkət adı)

Action Noun with -ma

Level 4

The -ma/-mə suffix creates an 'action noun' (hərəkət adı). It transforms a verb stem into a noun that names the specific event or the result of that action (e.g., 'reading', 'delay', 'embroidery').

How It Works

The -ma/-mə verbal noun is a productive way to nominalize verbs in Azerbaijani.

1. Formation:
It follows two-way vowel harmony:

  • -ma follows back vowels (a, ı, o, u). Example: yaz- (write) → yazma (writing).
  • -mə follows front vowels (e, ə, i, ö, ü). Example: gəl- (come) → gəlmə (coming).

2. Stress (Crucial):
The suffix is stressed when it ends the word. This distinguishes it from the negative imperative, where the suffix is unstressed and the stress falls on the syllable immediately preceding it. For example, oxuma (the reading) vs. oxuma (don't read).

3. Usage Scenarios:

  • Names of Actions: Used in titles or headings (e.g., 'Oxuma' for a Reading section).
  • Resulting Products: Many common nouns are formed this way, such as dondurma (ice cream, literally 'the freezing') or tikmə (embroidery).
  • Specific Events: Referring to a particular occurrence, like gecikmə (a delay).

4. Comparison with -maq:
While both are verbal nouns, -maq is more common for the general process or dictionary form. In Azerbaijani, -maq is also frequently used with possessives (e.g., oxumağım), whereas -ma is used when the action is viewed as a distinct entity or result.

Examples (4)

  1. Oxuma uşağın inkişafı üçün vacibdir.

    Reading is important for the child's development.

    Word by Word: Reading child's development for important-is.

    Here, 'oxuma' acts as the subject of the sentence, naming the activity of reading.

  2. Qatarın gecikməsi sərnişinləri narahat etdi.

    The delay of the train worried the passengers.

    Word by Word: Train's delaying-its passengers worried did.

    The suffix -mə is used here with a third-person possessive to describe a specific event (the delay).

  3. Bu tikmə çox zərif işlənib.

    This embroidery is very delicately made.

    Word by Word: This embroidery very delicate worked-is.

    In this context, 'tikmə' refers to the physical result of the action (the embroidery) rather than the act of sewing.

  4. Onun gəlməsi hamını sevindirdi.

    His arrival made everyone happy.

    Word by Word: His coming-his everyone happy-made.

    The verbal noun 'gəlmə' combined with a possessive suffix refers to the specific instance of him arriving.

Common Mistakes

  • Misplacing the stress, making it sound like a negative command.

    Oraya gəl'mə vacibdir.
    Oraya gəlmə' vacibdir.

    In the verbal noun, the stress must fall on the suffix (-ma/-mə). If you stress the stem, it sounds like you are saying 'Don't come!'

  • Forgetting the buffer -n- when adding case endings to the 3rd person possessive form.

    Onun oxumasıa baxıram.
    Onun oxumasına baxıram.

    When adding a case suffix like the dative (-a) to a 3rd person possessive (-sı), you must use the buffer 'n'. See buffer n after possessive.

How It Connects

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-ma/-mə (hərəkət adı)Level 4Action Noun with -ma

Learn This First

To understand the -ma/-mə verbal noun, learners must be familiar with how to identify a verb stem (the imperative form) and apply basic two-way vowel harmony. Since these forms function as nouns, understanding the nominative case is also essential for using them as subjects.

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Words in This Pattern

-mə