mümkündür ki

Formal Possibility Clause

Level 5

Use mümkündür ki to state that something is objectively possible or feasible. It is a hallmark of formal, academic, and legal Azerbaijani.

How It Works

The expression mümkündür ki is used to introduce a possibility based on objective conditions rather than a speaker's mere hunch.

1. Structure and Mood:
The sentence starts with Mümkündür ki, followed by a comma. The verb in the subordinate clause can take different moods depending on the nature of the possibility:

  • Subjunctive/Optative: Used for potential future actions or desires. The verb usually takes the third-person imperative endings (-sın, -sin, -sun, -sün) or optative forms. Example: Mümkündür ki, o gəlsin.
  • Indicative: Used when the possibility refers to a factual state, a completed action, or a specific existing condition. Tenses like the reported past or present tense are common here. Example: Mümkündür ki, o, artıq gəlib. (It is possible that he has already arrived).

2. Register:
This is a formal syntactic structure. While you might hear bəlkə or ola bilsin ki in daily conversation, mümkündür ki is preferred in journalism, legal documents, and academic writing.

3. Nuance:
Unlike ehtimal ki (it is probable), which suggests a high likelihood, mümkündür ki only establishes that an event is not impossible or that the technical feasibility exists.

Examples (4)

  1. Mümkündür ki, bu məsələ yaxın vaxtlarda həll olunsun.

    It is possible that this issue will be resolved in the near future.

    Word by Word: Possible is that, this issue near times-in solution be-let.

    Note the use of the subjunctive 'olunsun' following the formal possibility marker.

  2. Mümkündür ki, onlar sənin təklifini qəbul etsinlər.

    It is possible that they might accept your proposal.

    Word by Word: Possible is that, they your proposal-acc accept do-let-plural.

    This expresses a formal possibility regarding the actions of a third party.

  3. Mümkündür ki, biz bu layihəni vaxtında bitirək.

    It is possible that we will finish this project on time.

    Word by Word: Possible is that, we this project-acc time-in finish-optative.

    Here, the first-person plural optative '-ək' is used in the subordinate clause.

  4. Mümkündür ki, hava şəraiti sabah dəyişsin.

    It is possible that the weather conditions will change tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Possible is that, weather condition tomorrow change-let.

    A formal way to state a potential change in conditions.

Common Mistakes

  • Incorrect comma placement.

    Mümkündür, ki o gəlsin.
    Mümkündür ki, o gəlsin.

    In standard Azerbaijani orthography, the comma is placed after the conjunction 'ki', not before it.

  • Using 'mümkündür ki' when you are about 90% sure.

    Different MeaningMümkündür ki, sabah yağış yağacaq.
    Ehtimal ki, sabah yağış yağacaq.

    'Mümkündür ki, sabah yağış yağacaq' is correct, but it only says rain is possible. 'Mümkündür ki' indicates logical possibility, while 'ehtimal ki' fits a high likelihood or probability.

How It Connects

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

mümkündür kiLevel 5Formal Possibility Clause

Learn This First

To understand 'mümkündür ki', a learner needs to be familiar with the third-person nominal predicate ending '-dır' and how the conjunction 'ki' functions to introduce complement clauses. It is also helpful to first know the simpler way of expressing possibility using 'mümkündür' with an infinitive.

Words in This Pattern

mümkün-dirki