-ma/-mə + Case Ending

Case-marked Verbal Noun Clause

Level 5

The -ma/-mə suffix creates a verbal noun (gerund). When you add case endings like -nı/-ni (Accusative) or -ya/-yə (Dative), it allows the entire action to act as a noun in a sentence.

How It Works

In Azerbaijani, the verbal noun -ma/-mə is a versatile tool for building complex sentences. It follows vowel harmony (two-way: a/ı/o/u → -ma; ə/i/ö/ü → -mə).

1. Morphology:
The structure usually follows this chain: [Verb Stem] + [-ma/-mə] + [Possessive Suffix] + [Optional Buffer 'n'] + [Case Ending].
Example: gəlmə-si-n-ə (to his/her coming).

2. Buffer Consonants:

  • If you add a vowel-starting case ending (like dative or accusative) directly to the suffix without a possessive, use the buffer -y-: oxuma-y-a (to reading), oxuma-y-ı (the reading).
  • If you add a case ending after a 3rd person possessive suffix, use the buffer -n-: oxuma-sı-n-a (to his/her reading).
  • Note: 1st and 2nd person possessives do not require a buffer before case endings: gəlmə-m-ə (to my coming), gəlmə-n-ə (to your coming).

3. Usage Scenarios:
This pattern is required by verbs that take specific cases, such as etiraz etmək (to object to + Dative) or narazı olmaq (to be unhappy with + ablative). It is also used for direct objects when the action is specific: Sənin getməni istəmirəm (I don't want your going/you to go).

Examples (4)

  1. Onun vaxtında gəlməməsinə etiraz etdilər.

    They objected to his not coming on time.

    Word by Word: His time-at not-coming-his-to objection they-did.

    Here, the first '-mə' is negation and the second is the verbal noun. The dative case '-nə' is required by the verb 'etiraz etmək'.

  2. Sənin bu kitabı oxumanı istəyirəm.

    I want you to read this book.

    Word by Word: Your this book-acc reading-your-acc I-want.

    The verbal noun 'oxuma' takes the 2nd person possessive '-n' and the accusative case '-ı' to function as the direct object of 'istəyirəm'.

  3. Biz onun bu qərarı verməsindən narazıyıq.

    We are dissatisfied with him making this decision.

    Word by Word: We his this decision giving-his-from dissatisfied-are.

    The ablative case '-dan/-dən' is used here because the adjective 'narazı' (dissatisfied) requires the source of dissatisfaction to be in the ablative case.

  4. Müəllim şagirdin sual verməsinə icazə verdi.

    The teacher allowed the student to ask a question.

    Word by Word: Teacher student-gen question giving-his-to permission gave.

    The dative case '-nə' is used because 'icazə vermək' (to give permission) takes a dative object.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the buffer 'n' after a possessive suffix.

    Onun gəlməsi-i istəyirəm.
    Onun gəlməsini istəyirəm.

    When a case ending follows a 3rd person possessive suffix (-(s)ı/-(s)i), you must use the buffer 'n', not 'y' or nothing.

  • Leaving the accusative off the verbal noun object.

    Onun gəlməsi istəyirəm.
    Onun gəlməsini istəyirəm.

    When the verbal noun is the thing you want, it takes the accusative ending after the possessive: gəlməsini, as in the right sentence.

How It Connects

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

-ma/-mə + Case EndingLevel 5Case-marked Verbal Noun Clause

Learn This First

To understand case-marked verbal noun clauses, you must first be familiar with how to form a verbal noun using -ma/-mə. Since these clauses typically function as arguments (like objects or subjects) and often involve a specific possessor, you need to understand how possessive suffixes and case endings are layered onto these nominalized verbs.

Words in This Pattern

-mə