-dır/-dir/-dur/-dür (icbar növü)
Causative with -dır
The causative suffix -dır/-dir/-dur/-dür turns a verb into a 'make/let/have' action. It increases the number of participants in a sentence by adding a 'causer'.
How It Works
The causative suffix is a fundamental part of Azerbaijani verb morphology. It follows the 4-way vowel harmony rules:
- -dır: after a, ı (e.g., yaz → yazdır)
- -dir: after e, ə, i (e.g., bil → bildir)
- -dur: after o, u (e.g., qur → qurdur)
- -dür: after ö, ü (e.g., gül → güldür)
Usage Scenarios:
1. Intransitive to Transitive: It makes a verb that doesn't take an object (like 'laugh') take one ('make someone laugh'). In this case, the person being made to act takes the accusative case.
2. Transitive to Double Transitive: If the verb already takes an object (like 'write'), the causative means 'having someone else do it.' The person performing the action (the causee) takes the dative case.
3. Ditransitive Verb Clash: If a verb already requires a dative object (e.g., 'give something to someone'), you cannot have two dative objects. In these cases, the causee is marked using ilə or the postposition vasitəsilə (by means of).
Phonological Note: The -dır suffix is used for most monosyllabic stems, including those ending in r, l, or vowels (e.g., bil-dir, ye-dir). However, polysyllabic stems ending in r, l, or vowels prefer the -t causative suffix. You can also add -dır after -t to create a 'double causative' (e.g., oxutdurmaq - to have someone make someone else read).
Other Suffixes: While -dır is the most productive, some common verbs use different suffixes like -ır/-ir/-ur/-ür (e.g., biş-ir-mək - to cook) or -ar/-ər (e.g., çıx-ar-maq - to take out).
Examples (4)
- Müəllim şagirdə mətni yazdırdı.
The teacher had the student write the text.
Word by Word: Teacher student-to text-acc write-cause-past
Here, 'yazmaq' (to write) becomes 'yazdırmaq' (to have written). The student (the one writing) is in the dative case.
- Bu film hamını güldürdü.
This movie made everyone laugh.
Word by Word: This movie everyone-acc laugh-cause-past
The intransitive verb 'gülmək' (to laugh) becomes transitive 'güldürmək' (to make laugh).
- O, saçını kəsdirdi.
He had his hair cut.
Word by Word: He hair-his-acc cut-cause-past
In Azerbaijani, you use the causative for services you receive, similar to 'have something done' in English.
- Anam mənə otağı yığışdırdı.
My mother made me tidy up the room.
Word by Word: Mother-my me-to room-acc tidy-cause-past
The person being 'made' to do the action (mənə) is in the dative case because 'yığışdırmaq' is transitive.
Common Mistakes
Writing the copula -dır where a causative verb is needed.
Different MeaningO, kitabdır.O, yazdırır.'O, kitabdır' is a fine sentence meaning 'It is a book': here the assertive third person nominal ending attaches to a noun. The causative '-dır' attaches to a verb stem instead ('O, yazdırır' = 'He is having it written').
Putting the person who does the writing in the accusative.
Different MeaningMən onu yazdırdım.Mən ona yazdırdım.'Mən onu yazdırdım' is a good sentence, but 'onu' is the thing that gets written ('I had it written'). To name the person you make write, use the dative case: 'Mən ona yazdırdım' ('I had him write').
Using the dative case for the causee of an intransitive verb.
Mən ona güldürdüm.Mən onu güldürdüm.When an intransitive verb (like 'laugh') becomes causative, the person being made to perform the action must take the accusative case.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the causative -dır suffix, learners must first be comfortable with four-way vowel harmony to choose the correct suffix variant. They also need to identify the verb stem (the imperative form) to which the suffix is attached, and understand how this new verb stem can then be conjugated with standard tense and person endings.
- Second-person singular imperative
Causative suffixes are attached to the verb stem, which is functionally identical to the second-person singular imperative form.
Level 2 - -dı/-di/-du/-düSimple Witnessed Past
The causative suffix is often used in conjunction with past tense markers in examples like 'yazdırdım', requiring knowledge of how tense suffixes follow the causative marker.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- -tCausative with -t
An alternative causative suffix used primarily for stems ending in vowels, 'r', or 'l'.
Level 4 - -ır/-ir/-ur/-ür (icbar növü)Causative with -ır
A less common, lexically specific causative suffix used with certain verb stems.
Level 4 - -a/-ə (yönlük hal)Dative Direction Case
The dative case is used to mark the 'causee' (the person performing the action) in transitive causative constructions.
Level 1 - Dative causee with transitives
Explains the specific syntax of using the dative case with causative verbs.
Level 4 - Causative-passive stacking
Shows how to combine the causative and passive suffixes to say things like 'it was made to be done'.
Level 4 - Vowel harmony in basic suffixes
The fundamental rule of vowel harmony that determines which version of -dır/-dir/-dur/-dür to use.
Level 1
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Practice -dır/-dir/-dur/-dür (icbar növü) in Bubblegum
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