Impersonal passive construction
The impersonal passive (şəxssiz növ) describes an action without any grammatical subject. It is formed by adding passive suffixes to intransitive verbs, resulting in sentences like 'It was decided' or 'Smoking is not allowed here.'
How It Works
The şəxssiz passiv (impersonal passive) is a unique feature of Azerbaijani grammar used to express general truths, official decisions, or social norms.
1. Formation:
It uses the same suffixes as the consonant-stem passive or vowel-stem passive, following vowel harmony:
- -ıl⁴: Used after most consonants (e.g., baxmaq → baxılmaq).
- -ın⁴: Used after the consonant 'l' to avoid double 'l' (e.g., gülmək → gülünmək).
- -n: Used after vowels (e.g., yaşamaq → yaşanmaq).
2. The Intransitivity Rule:
This is the most critical distinction. The impersonal passive is formed only from intransitive verbs (verbs that cannot take a direct object in the definite accusative case). Because there is no object to 'promote' to a subject, the sentence remains subjectless.
3. 3rd Person Singular Restriction:
Because these constructions are subjectless, the verb is strictly restricted to the 3rd person singular form (e.g., -dır or zero ending). It cannot take other personal or number markers because there is no agent or patient acting as a subject.
4. Case Usage:
Nouns in these sentences usually remain in their original oblique cases, such as the dative case or locative case. They do not change to the nominative case.
Examples (5)
- Bu yolla gedilir.
One goes this way.
Word by Word: This way-with it-is-gone.
The verb 'getmək' (to go) is intransitive. In the passive form, it becomes impersonal, meaning there is no subject performing the action.
- Məsələyə iclasda baxıldı.
The matter was looked into at the meeting.
Word by Word: To-the-matter at-the-meeting it-was-looked.
Note that 'məsələyə' remains in the dative case; there is no nominative subject because 'baxmaq' is intransitive.
- Qanuna əməl edilir.
The law is being followed.
Word by Word: To-the-law action is-done.
This uses the auxiliary 'edilmək' (passive of 'etmək') with a dative complement to show a general rule or norm.
- Gecə saat on birədək yatılır.
People sleep until eleven o'clock at night.
Word by Word: Night hour ten one-until it-is-slept.
'Yatmaq' (to sleep) is intransitive, so the passive form 'yatılır' creates a subjectless sentence describing a general habit.
- Dünənki qərara toxunuldu.
Yesterday's decision was touched upon.
Word by Word: Yesterday's to-decision it-was-touched.
The verb 'toxunmaq' is intransitive, so the resulting passive form has no subject and the complement remains in the dative case.
Common Mistakes
Trying to use a nominative subject with an impersonal passive verb.
Məsələ baxıldı.Məsələyə baxıldı.Since 'baxmaq' takes the dative case, the noun must stay in the dative case. Using the nominative 'Məsələ' is incorrect because the impersonal passive cannot have a subject.
Giving an impersonal passive a personal subject.
Mən gülündüm.Gülündü.An impersonal passive has no subject and the verb stays in the third person singular: 'Gülündü' ('There was laughter'). It cannot take 'mən' and a first-person ending.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the impersonal passive (şəxssiz passiv), you must first be familiar with how to form the passive voice in Azerbaijani using the suffixes -ıl/-il/-ul/-ül or -n. The impersonal passive is a specific application of these forms where the verb is used without a grammatical subject, often to express general prohibitions, rules, or actions where the actor is irrelevant.
- -n (məchul növ)Vowel-stem Passive
The impersonal passive requires knowledge of the passive suffix used for vowel-stem verbs.
Level 4 - -ılırPresent Passive
Impersonal passive constructions are frequently used in the present tense to describe general rules or ongoing actions without a specific subject.
Level 4
Related Patterns
- -ıl/-il/-ul/-ülConsonant-stem Passive
This is the standard suffix used to form both the regular and impersonal passive for consonant-ending stems.
Level 4 - -(y)a/-(y)ə (yönlük hal)Dative Case
Many impersonal passive constructions involve verbs that require the dative case for their complements.
Level 2 - bildirilir kiImpersonal Reported Statement
A common formal expression that uses the impersonal passive to report information.
Level 5 - qeyd olunur kiFormal Noted Statement
A formal reporting structure using the impersonal passive of 'qeyd olunmaq' (to be noted).
Level 5 - olmazOlmaz as Prohibition
Often used alongside impersonal passives to express what is not allowed in a general sense.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Impersonal passive construction in Bubblegum
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