qarşı

Against or Toward with Qarşı

Level 2

The postposition qarşı is used to express opposition (against), emotional attitude (toward), physical orientation (facing/opposite), or approaching time (toward/near).

How It Works

The word qarşı is a versatile postposition that always requires the preceding noun or pronoun to be in the dative case. It functions in four primary ways:

  • Opposition: Used for resistance or being 'against' something (e.g., 'medicine against the flu').
  • Attitude: Describes how you feel or behave toward someone (e.g., 'kind toward me').
  • Orientation: Indicates facing something or being situated opposite to it (e.g., 'a window facing the garden').
  • Time: Indicates a time that is approaching or near (e.g., 'toward evening').

Note: Do not confuse qarşı with the possessive construction qarşısında. While dənizə qarşı means 'facing the sea', evin qarşısında means 'in front of the house'.

Examples (5)

  1. Soyuğa qarşı dərman içirəm.

    I am taking medicine against the cold.

    Word by Word: Cold-to against medicine I-am-drinking.

    Here, 'soyuğa' is the dative form of 'soyuq' (cold), showing opposition.

  2. O, mənə qarşı çox mehribandır.

    He is very kind toward me.

    Word by Word: He, me-to toward very kind-is.

    This demonstrates an emotional attitude directed toward a person using the first person pronoun in the dative case.

  3. Axşama qarşı yağış yağdı.

    It rained toward evening.

    Word by Word: Evening-to toward rain fell.

    In this context, 'qarşı' indicates a temporal approach (near evening).

  4. Evimiz dənizə qarşıdır.

    Our house faces the sea.

    Word by Word: House-our sea-to opposite-is.

    This shows physical orientation, meaning the house is facing or opposite the sea.

  5. Buna qarşı tədbir görməliyik.

    We must take measures against this.

    Word by Word: This-to against measure see-must-we.

    Using the demonstrative 'bu' in the dative case 'buna' to express opposition to a situation.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the nominative case instead of the dative case.

    Mən qarşı gəldi.
    Mənə qarşı gəldi.

    Postpositions like 'qarşı' require a specific case. Using the base form (nominative) is grammatically incorrect; you must use the dative 'mənə'.

  • Placing 'qarşı' before the noun like an English preposition.

    Qarşı soyuğa dərman.
    Soyuğa qarşı dərman.

    Azerbaijani uses postpositions, meaning the relational word must follow the noun it modifies.

How It Connects

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qarşıLevel 2Against or Toward with Qarşı

Learn This First

To use 'qarşı' (against/toward), you must first understand the dative case (-a/-ə) because this postposition always governs that case. Familiarity with personal pronouns and basic vowel harmony is also required to form correct phrases like 'ona qarşı' or 'soyuğa qarşı'.

Words in This Pattern

qarşı