-ar/-ərmi

Aorist Yes-no Questions

Level 3

The aorist question (-ar/-ərmi) is used for 'would/does' questions regarding general habits, possibilities, or polite favors.

How It Works

The aorist question, known locally as the Qeyri-qəti gələcək zamanın sual forması (Indefinite Future Tense question), is a versatile tool. Unlike the definite future question, which asks about planned events, the aorist question focuses on what generally happens or what might happen.

1. Formation:
The structure follows a strict order: Verb Stem + Aorist Suffix (-ar/-ər) + Personal Ending + Question Particle (-mı/-mi).

  • If the verb stem ends in a vowel, you must use the -y- buffer (e.g., gözlə-y-ər).
  • Because the aorist suffix and personal endings always use unrounded vowels (a/ə), the question particle only appears as -mı or -mi according to vowel harmony.

2. Negative Questions:
To ask a negative question, use the negative aorist suffix. Note that the suffix changes based on the person:

  • For the first person (I/We), use -mar/-mər (e.g., Gəlmərəmmi? - 'Wouldn't I come?', Gəlmərikmi? - 'Wouldn't we come?').
  • For the second and third persons, use -maz/-məz (e.g., Gəlməzsənmi? - 'Wouldn't you come?', Gəlməzmi? - 'Wouldn't he/she come?').

3. Usage Contexts:

  • General Truths: 'Does water boil at 100 degrees?'
  • Habits: 'Do you drink coffee every morning?'
  • Polite Requests: In the second person (-arsanmı / -ərsinizmi), it is the standard way to say 'Would you...?' or 'Could you...?'
  • Potential: 'Would he ever do such a thing?'

4. Register Note:
In formal writing, the -mi particle is written attached to the verb. In casual speech, the particle is often dropped, and the question is indicated by rising intonation (e.g., Edərsən? instead of Edərsənmi?).

Examples (5)

  1. Bu yol şəhərə gedərmi?

    Does this road go to the city?

    Word by Word: This road to-city go-aorist-question?

    This asks about a general, permanent fact (where the road leads) rather than a specific trip.

  2. Mənə kömək edərsənmi?

    Would you help me?

    Word by Word: To-me help do-aorist-you-question?

    Using the aorist here makes the request polite and soft, similar to 'would you' in English.

  3. O, heç vaxt yalan danışarmı?

    Would he ever tell a lie?

    Word by Word: He never lie speak-aorist-question?

    This asks about a person's character or potential behavior.

  4. Siz çay içərsinizmi?

    Would you (plural/polite) drink tea?

    Word by Word: You tea drink-aorist-you-question?

    A common way to offer something politely to a guest.

  5. O, heç vaxt gəlməzmi?

    Would he never come?

    Word by Word: He never come-negative.aorist-question?

    This shows the negative aorist question form using -maz/-məz followed by the question particle.

Common Mistakes

  • Using -r instead of -yar/-yər for vowel-ending stems.

    O, məni gözlərmi?
    O, məni gözləyərmi?

    In Azerbaijani, if a verb stem ends in a vowel, you must use the -y- buffer before the aorist suffix. The form 'gözlər' is a Turkish influence; in Azerbaijani, it is 'gözləyər'.

  • Placing the question particle before the personal suffix.

    Gedər misən?
    Gedərsənmi?

    In Azerbaijani, the question particle -mi comes at the very end of the verb chain, after the personal ending. The order 'mi + personal suffix' is a Turkish pattern, not Azerbaijani.

  • Choosing the future where a polite request is meant.

    Different MeaningMənə kömək edəcəksənmi?
    Mənə kömək edərsənmi?

    'Mənə kömək edəcəksənmi?' is a good sentence meaning 'Are you going to help me?' (asking about a plan). The aorist 'Mənə kömək edərsənmi?' is the natural polite 'Would you help me?'

How It Connects

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

-ar/-ərmiLevel 3Aorist Yes-no Questions

Learn This First

To form aorist yes-no questions, learners must first understand how to conjugate verbs in the aorist tense (-ar/-ər) with personal endings. Additionally, they need to be familiar with the general yes-no question particle (-mı/-mi/-mu/-mü) and how it attaches to verbal forms.

Words in This Pattern

-ar-ər