-masından sonra/əvvəl

Before or After a Nominalized Event

Level 5

The construction -masından sonra/əvvəl is a high-register formal pattern used to describe the sequence of events. It translates to 'after/before the occurrence of [action].'

How It Works

In formal Azerbaijani (academic, legal, or journalistic), actions are often nominalized to sound more objective. This pattern follows a specific morphological chain:

[Verb Stem] + [-ma/-mə] + [Possessive] + [n] + [-dan/-dən] + [sonra/əvvəl]

  • Nominalization: The verb is turned into a noun using the -ma/-mə suffix.
  • Subject Marking: Unlike standard adverbial clauses, the subject of this clause must be in the genitive case.
  • Possessive Suffix: The verbal noun takes a possessive suffix that matches the subject.
  • Buffer 'n': A buffer n is required ONLY when using the third person singular or plural possessive suffixes. It is not used for 1st or 2nd person (e.g., gəlmə-m-dən).
  • Case: The postpositions sonra and əvvəl require the ablative case.

This construction is preferred in writing when the subject of the 'before/after' clause is different from the main clause, as it clearly defines the relationship between the two.

Examples (4)

  1. İclasın başa çatmasından sonra qərar açıqlandı.

    After the meeting ended, the decision was announced.

    Word by Word: Meeting's end reaching-its-from after decision was-announced.

    Note how 'İclas' (meeting) takes the genitive case, and the verb 'çatmaq' is nominalized.

  2. Qatarların hərəkətinin bərpa olunmasından əvvəl yollar yoxlanılmalıdır.

    Before the restoration of train movement, the tracks must be inspected.

    Word by Word: Trains' movement's restoration being-from before roads must-be-checked.

    This demonstrates a complex chain of nouns leading to the nominalized verb 'olunmasından'.

  3. Onun gəlməsindən sonra hər şey dəyişdi.

    After his arrival, everything changed.

    Word by Word: His coming-from after every thing changed.

    Even with simple pronouns like 'o' (he/she), the formal register uses the genitive 'onun' and the nominalized verb.

  4. Layihənin təsdiq edilməsindən əvvəl müzakirələr aparıldı.

    Before the project was approved, discussions were held.

    Word by Word: Project's approval being-done-from before discussions were-conducted.

    Commonly used in official reports to describe administrative sequences.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out the genitive when the guest is a specific person.

    Different MeaningQonaq gəlməsindən sonra yemək yedik.
    Qonağın gəlməsindən sonra yemək yedik.

    A general, indefinite subject can stay bare (qonaq gəlməsindən sonra, 'after a guest comes'). When you mean a specific guest, give the subject the genitive (qonağın), as in the right sentence.

  • Forgetting the buffer 'n' before the ablative case in the third person.

    İclasın bitməsidən sonra...
    İclasın bitməsindən sonra...

    When adding a case ending to a 3rd person possessive suffix, you must use the buffer 'n'.

  • Using this pattern in casual conversation.

    Different MeaningSənin gəlməndən sonra çay içərik.
    Sən gələndən sonra çay içərik.

    While grammatically correct, the nominalized form sounds overly stiff and robotic in a casual setting with friends.

How It Connects

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

-masından sonra/əvvəlLevel 5Before or After a Nominalized Event

Learn This First

To understand this pattern, you must first be familiar with how to nominalize a verb using the -ma/-mə suffix and attach possessive endings. Additionally, you need to know how to use the ablative case (-dan/-dən) and the postpositions 'sonra' (after) and 'əvvəl' (before), which govern that case.

Words in This Pattern

əvvəlsonra