-acağını/-əcəyini (tamamlıq)

Future Complement Clause

Level 4

The -acağını / -əcəyini pattern is a common way to create a 'that' clause for future events. It turns a future verb into a noun-like object so you can say things like 'I know that he will come' or 'She said that it will rain'.

How It Works

In Azerbaijani, when you want to report a future event as the object of another verb, you use this nominalized form.

1. Construction:
The formula is: [Subject in Genitive Case] + Verb Stem + (y)acaq/(y)əcək + Possessive Suffix + Case Suffix.

  • Buffer Consonants: If the verb stem ends in a vowel, use the -y- buffer before the suffix (e.g., oxu-y-acaq).
  • Phonology: The final -q or -k of the future suffix changes to -ğ or -y when a vowel-starting possessive suffix is added (e.g., gələcəy-im). Note: This change does not happen with the 3rd person plural suffix because it starts with a consonant (e.g., gələcəkləri).
  • Subject Identification: The possessive suffix tells us who is doing the future action (e.g., -ım for 'my', -ın for 'your').
  • Case Marking: While the accusative case is most common for direct objects (e.g., bilmək), the clause must take whatever case the matrix verb requires, such as the dative for inanmaq (to believe) or ablative for qorxmaq (to fear).

2. Register:
This form is common in writing and news, and it is used in speech too. Speakers also often use the ki complement clause instead (e.g., Dedi ki, gələcək).

3. Ambiguity:
The 2nd person singular ('your') and 3rd person singular ('his/her') forms often look identical in the accusative: -acağını. Context or a preceding genitive pronoun clarifies the meaning.

Examples (4)

  1. Sabah yağış yağacağını düşünürəm.

    I think that it will rain tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Tomorrow rain will-its-acc I-think.

    Here, 'yağacağını' acts as the object of 'düşünürəm' (I think).

  2. Müəllim imtahanın çətin olacağını dedi.

    The teacher said that the exam would be difficult.

    Word by Word: Teacher exam-gen difficult be-its-acc said.

    The future participle 'olacaq' is nominalized to report what the teacher said.

  3. Sənin bu işi bitirəcəyini gözləyirik.

    We expect that you will finish this work.

    Word by Word: Your this work-acc finish-your-acc we-expect.

    The possessive suffix '-in' indicates that 'you' (sənin) are the one finishing the work.

  4. Onun bizə kömək edəcəyini bilirdim.

    I knew that he would help us.

    Word by Word: His us-dat help do-his-acc I-knew.

    Even though the main verb is in the past (bilirdim), the complement uses the future form to show the help was prospective at that time.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the future complement when you mean a past fact.

    Different MeaningGələcəyini bilmirəm.
    Gəldiyini bilmirəm.

    This is a good sentence, but -acağını points to the future: not knowing that he will come. For a past fact (not knowing that he came), use -dığını, as in the right sentence. Keep -acağını for future expectations or plans.

  • This sentence is fine, but it means 'I know the future'.

    Different MeaningGələcəyi bilirəm.
    Gələcəyini bilirəm.

    Gələcəyi bilirəm is a real sentence: gələcəyi here is the noun 'future' in the accusative, so it means 'I know the future'. To say 'I know that he will come', you need the possessive and the buffer n, as in the right sentence.

  • Forgetting the genitive case for the subject of the clause.

    Mən gələcəyimi dedi.
    Mənim gələcəyimi dedi.

    In these nominalized clauses, the subject must be in the genitive case (e.g., mənim, sənin, Əlinin) to link correctly with the possessive suffix on the verb.

How It Connects

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

-acağını/-əcəyini (tamamlıq)Level 4Future Complement Clause

Learn This First

To understand the future complement clause (-acağını/-əcəyini), you must first be familiar with the definite future tense marker. Additionally, you need to understand how possessive suffixes are used to indicate the subject of the subordinate clause and how case markers (specifically the accusative case) are attached to these possessed forms to function as objects in a sentence.

Words in This Pattern

-əcək-acaq