-dıqca/-dikcə (feli bağlama)

As Action Continues

Level 3

The -dıqca/-dikcə converb links two actions where the second one changes or intensifies as the first one continues. It is the primary way to say 'the more... the more' or 'as long as' in Azerbaijani.

How It Works

The -dıqca/-dikcə/-duqca/-dükcə suffix is a versatile tool in Azerbaijani for describing progression. It has two main functions:

  • Proportionality: It indicates that as action A increases or continues, action B also increases or changes. (e.g., 'The more I read, the more I learn').
  • Duration/Condition: It can mean 'as long as' or 'throughout the duration of,' implying that the second action is dependent on the first one continuing. (e.g., 'As long as you work, you will succeed').

Morphology:
The suffix follows vowel harmony:

  • -dıqca: after a, ı (e.g., baxdıqca)
  • -dikcə: after e, ə, i (e.g., getdikcə)
  • -duqca: after o, u (e.g., oxuduqca)
  • -dükcə: after ö, ü (e.g., gördükcə)

Important Note: Unlike Turkish, Azerbaijani usually retains the 'd' even after voiceless consonants (e.g., baxdıqca, not baxtıqca).

Examples (4)

  1. Oxuduqca daha çox başa düşürəm.

    The more I read, the more I understand.

    Word by Word: Read-as more much head I-fall.

    Here, the understanding increases in direct proportion to the amount of reading done.

  2. Vaxt keçdikcə şəhər dəyişir.

    As time passes, the city changes.

    Word by Word: Time pass-as city changes.

    This shows a temporal progression where the change happens continuously as time goes by.

  3. Sən belə etdikcə heç nə düzəlməyəcək.

    As long as you do this, nothing will improve.

    Word by Word: You so do-as nothing will-not-improve.

    In this context, the suffix functions as 'as long as,' setting a condition based on a continuous action.

  4. Yaşadıqca yeni şeylər öyrənirik.

    As we live, we learn new things.

    Word by Word: Live-as new things we-learn.

    This implies that learning is a continuous process that happens throughout the duration of life.

Common Mistakes

  • Using -dıqca when you mean one moment of arrival.

    Different MeaningEvə çatdıqca mənə zəng elə.
    Evə çatanda mənə zəng elə.

    With -dıqca the sentence means 'call me every time you get home'. For one specific moment ('when you arrive'), use -anda.

  • Changing the 'd' to 't' after voiceless consonants (Turkish influence).

    Bax-tıqca
    Bax-dıqca

    In Azerbaijani orthography, the suffix starts with 'd' regardless of the preceding consonant.

How It Connects

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

-dıqca/-dikcə (feli bağlama)Level 3As Action Continues

Learn This First

To understand the -dıqca/-dikcə progressive converb, learners must first be comfortable with four-way vowel harmony and the formation of the simple past tense, as the suffix shares the same morphological base. Additionally, since this pattern is often used to express increasing intensity (the more... the more), familiarity with comparative structures like 'daha' is helpful for practical application.