-masına baxmayaraq
Concessive Nominalized Clause
Use -masına baxmayaraq to show that something happened even though a specific fact or condition existed. It is the formal equivalent of 'despite the fact that'.
How It Works
The construction -masına/mağına baxmayaraq is a sophisticated way to create concessive clauses in Azerbaijani. It is primarily used for factual situations.
1. Structure:
The pattern is built by adding suffixes to the verb stem in this specific order:
- Verb Stem + -ma/-mə OR -maq/-mək (Nominalizer) + Possessive Suffix + Dative Case (-a/-ə) + baxmayaraq
Note: In the long form (-maq/-mək), the final 'q/k' undergoes a consonant shift to 'ğ/y' before the possessive suffix (e.g., oxumağ-ım-a).
2. Subject Agreement:
The possessive suffix must change to match the subject of the clause. While both forms are used, the long form is highly characteristic of standard Azerbaijani:
- Mənim oxumağıma baxmayaraq (Despite my reading)
- Sənin oxumağına baxmayaraq (Despite your reading)
- Onun oxumağına / oxumasına baxmayaraq (Despite his/her reading)
- Bizim oxumağımıza baxmayaraq (Despite our reading)
- Sizin oxumağınıza baxmayaraq (Despite your reading)
- Onların oxumaqlarına / oxumalarına baxmayaraq (Despite their reading)
3. Register:
This is a formal construction. While -sa da/-sə də is common in casual speech, this nominalized form is preferred in news, academic writing, and professional contexts. The long nominalizer (-mağına) is often perceived as more formal or standard in North Azerbaijani than the short form (-masına).
Examples (5)
- Havanın soyuq olmasına baxmayaraq, uşaqlar çöldə oynayırdılar.
Despite the weather being cold, the children were playing outside.
Word by Word: Weather's cold being-its-to not-looking-at, children outside-at were-playing.
Here, 'olmasına' uses the possessed verbal noun with the 3rd person possessive suffix to agree with 'hava' (weather).
- Çox çalışmasına baxmayaraq, o, imtahandan keçə bilmədi.
Despite working hard, he/she couldn't pass the exam.
Word by Word: Much working-his-to not-looking-at, he, exam-from pass could-not.
This uses the short nominalizer form with the third person singular possessive suffix.
- Yorğun olmağına baxmayaraq, tapşırığı bitirdi.
Despite being tired, he/she finished the assignment.
Word by Word: Tired being-his-to not-looking-at, assignment-acc finished.
This example uses the long nominalizer form (-maq/-mək), which is very common in formal Azerbaijani. The 'q' changes to 'ğ' before the possessive suffix.
- Qaydalara əməl edilməyinə baxmayaraq, qəza baş verdi.
Although the rules were followed, the accident occurred.
Word by Word: Rules-to follow being-done-its-to not-looking-at, accident head gave.
This uses a passive nominalized verb in the long form (edilməyinə) to show concession in a formal context.
- Mənim xəbərdarlıq etməyimə baxmayaraq, o, yenə də gecikdi.
Despite my warning, he was late again.
Word by Word: My warning doing-my-to not-looking-at, he, again also was-late.
The long nominalizer 'etmək' takes the first person singular possessive suffix (-im) followed by the dative case.
Common Mistakes
Using the wrong case marker before 'baxmayaraq'.
Yağış yağmasını baxmayaraq...Yağış yağmasına baxmayaraq...The postposition 'baxmayaraq' always requires the dative case (-a/-ə), not the accusative case (-ı/-i/-u/-ü).
Failing to change the possessive suffix to match the subject.
Mən gəlməsinə baxmayaraq...Mən gəlməmə baxmayaraq...If the subject is 'I' (mən), the verbal noun must take the 1st person possessive suffix (-m) before the dative case.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The '-masına baxmayaraq' construction is a complex nominalized clause. It requires knowledge of how to form verbal nouns with possessive suffixes to identify the subject, how to apply the dative case to these nouns, and how the postposition 'baxmayaraq' functions to create a concessive meaning ('although' or 'despite').
- -ma/-mə + Possessive EndingPossessed Verbal Noun
The pattern uses a verbal noun (-ma/-mə) combined with a possessive suffix to indicate the subject of the concessive clause.
Level 5 - -(y)a/-(y)ə (yönlük hal)Dative Case
The postposition 'baxmayaraq' requires the preceding nominalized verb to be in the dative case (-a/-ə).
Level 2
Related Patterns
- -sa da/-sə dəConcessive Conditional
A more common, less formal way to express 'even if' or 'although' using the conditional mood.
Level 4 - ona baxmayaraqDespite That Connector
A related connector used to start a new sentence meaning 'despite that' or 'nevertheless'.
Level 3 - -dığına baxmayaraqNominalized Concession
A past-oriented or factual alternative that focuses on the state of the action having occurred.
Level 6 - ki (tamamlıq cümləsi)Complement Clause with Ki
Used in the formal alternative 'baxmayaraq ki', which introduces a full subordinate clause.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice -masına baxmayaraq in Bubblegum
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