əgər + -sa/-sə

Conditional Frame with Əgər

Level 4

Use əgər at the start of a clause and attach -sa/-sə to the verb to say 'if X, then Y'.

How It Works

The conditional frame consists of two parts:

1. The Conjunction (əgər): Placed at the beginning of the sentence. In spoken Azerbaijani, it is often omitted because the suffix alone carries the meaning, but it is used for emphasis or in formal writing.
2. The Suffix (-sa/-sə): This follows vowel harmony rules:

  • -sa: Used after back vowels (a, ı, o, u).
  • -sə: Used after front vowels (e, ə, i, ö, ü).

Personal Endings (Category II):
The conditional mood uses specific personal endings that differ slightly from the standard present tense. Note the 1st person plural (-q/-k):

  • mən: -sam / -səm
  • sən: -san / -sən
  • o: -sa / -sə
  • biz: -saq / -sək
  • siz: -sanız / -səniz
  • onlar: -salar / -sələr

Structure and Result Clause:
(Əgər) + [Verb Stem] + [-sa/-sə] + [Personal Ending], [Result Clause].

The result clause (main clause) typically requires a future-leaning tense, most commonly the Aorist (-ar/-ər) or the Definite Future (-(y)acaq/-(y)əcək).

Examples:

  • With əgər: Əgər yağış yağsa, evdə qalaram. (If it rains, I will stay at home.)
  • Without əgər (Colloquial): Vaxtın olsa, bizə gəl. (If you have time, come to us.)
  • Factual: Əgər kitabın varsa, mənə ver. (If you have the book, give it to me.)
  • Hypothetical: When combined with the idi particle (as -saydı/-səydi), it expresses counterfactual conditions.

Examples (4)

  1. Əgər yağış yağsa, biz evdə qalacağıq.

    If it rains, we will stay at home.

    Word by Word: If rain falls-if, we home-at stay-will.

    A standard real condition. 'Yağsa' uses the -sa suffix because 'yağmaq' has a back vowel.

  2. Əgər vaxtınız varsa, gəlin çay içək.

    If you have time, let's drink tea.

    Word by Word: If time-your if-exists, come tea let's-drink.

    Uses the conditional on the word 'var' (exists) to create 'if there is/if you have'.

  3. Əgər o, burada olsaydı, bizə kömək edərdi.

    If he were here, he would help us.

    Word by Word: If he, here-at be-if-past, us-to help do-would.

    An unreal/hypothetical condition using the -saydı form.

  4. Əgər dərslərini oxusan, imtahandan keçərsən.

    If you study your lessons, you will pass the exam.

    Word by Word: If lessons-your-acc study-if-you, exam-from pass-will-you.

    Note how the personal ending (-n for 'you') comes after the conditional suffix -sa.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'əgər' without the '-sa/-sə' suffix.

    Əgər sən gəl, mən sevinərəm.
    Əgər sən gəlsən, mən sevinərəm.

    In Azerbaijani, the suffix is grammatically mandatory. You cannot rely on 'əgər' alone like you do with 'if' in English.

  • Confusing 'əgər' with 'yoxsa'.

    Tələs, əgər gecikəcəksən.
    Tələs, yoxsa gecikəcəksən.

    'Əgər' means 'if', while 'yoxsa' means 'otherwise' or 'or else'.

How It Connects

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

əgər + -sa/-səLevel 4Conditional Frame with Əgər

Learn This First

To understand the 'əgər + -sa/-sə' frame, a learner must first be comfortable with the conditional suffix -sa/-sə itself, as 'əgər' is an optional particle that reinforces the conditional meaning. Additionally, since 'əgər' is frequently used with both verbal and nominal predicates, familiarity with nominal conditionals and existential conditionals is necessary.

Words in This Pattern

əgər