-ıq/-ik/-uq/-ük (indiki zaman)

First Person Plural Present Ending

Level 1

In Azerbaijani, to say 'we are doing' something, you add -ıq, -ik, -uq, or -ük to the present tense verb stem.

How It Works

The first-person plural ending follows the rules of vowel harmony (specifically the four-way rule). It attaches directly to the present tense marker.

1. Vowel Harmony Rules:

  • Use -ıq if the last vowel is a or ı (e.g., baxırıq - we look).
  • Use -ik if the last vowel is e, ə, or i (e.g., gəlirik - we come).
  • Use -uq if the last vowel is o or u (e.g., oxuyuruq - we read).
  • Use -ük if the last vowel is ö or ü (e.g., görürük - we see).

2. Buffer Consonant:
If the verb root ends in a vowel (like oxu- or gözlə-), you must insert a buffer -y- before the present tense marker (e.g., oxuyuruq). See present tense after vowel stems for more details.

3. Pronunciation Note:
In colloquial speech, the final consonants often change:

  • The final -q (in -ıq/-uq) sounds like the 'ch' in the Scottish word 'Loch' or German 'Bach' [x]. It is not the 'ch' in 'church'.
  • The final -k (in -ik/-ük) often sounds like a soft 'y' (e.g., gəlirik sounds like gəliriy).

4. Negation and Questions:
To negate, use the negative marker before the person ending (e.g., getmirik - we aren't going). For questions, add the question particle at the very end (e.g., gəlirikmi? - are we coming?).

Examples (5)

  1. Biz hər gün parkda gəzirik.

    We walk in the park every day.

    Word by Word: We every day park-in walk-we.

    The verb 'gəzmək' (to walk) takes the present tense -ir- and the first-person plural '-ik' because of the 'i' vowel.

  2. İndi maraqlı bir kitab oxuyuruq.

    We are reading an interesting book now.

    Word by Word: Now interesting a book read-we.

    For vowel-ending roots like 'oxu-', a buffer -y- is added before the tense marker. The suffix '-uq' matches the rounded 'u'.

  3. Biz sizi çox yaxşı görürük.

    We see you very well.

    Word by Word: We you very well see-we.

    The verb 'görmək' (to see) uses the front-rounded '-ük' to match the 'ü' in the present tense marker.

  4. Biz bu gün işləmirik.

    We are not working today.

    Word by Word: We this day work-not-we.

    To make it negative, use -mir- before the person ending.

  5. Siz gəlirsiniz, yoxsa biz gəlirik?

    Are you coming, or are we coming?

    Word by Word: You come-you, or we come-we?

    This shows the contrast between the second person plural and the first person plural '-ik'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Turkish first-person plural ending '-ız'.

    Biz gəliriz.
    Biz gəlirik.

    Learners familiar with Turkish often use '-ız', but in Azerbaijani, the ending must be '-ıq/-ik/-uq/-ük'.

  • Violating vowel harmony.

    Biz baxirik.
    Biz baxırıq.

    The present tense marker for 'baxmaq' is '-ır-', so the personal ending must also use the back vowel 'ı' (-ıq).

How It Connects

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-ıq/-ik/-uq/-ük (indiki zaman)Level 1First Person Plural Present Ending

Learn This First

To understand the first person plural present ending, you first need to know how to form the present tense itself using the -(y)ır suffix. It is also helpful to be familiar with other personal endings, such as the first person singular, to understand how verbs are conjugated for different subjects.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

-ik-ıq-ük-uq