-mış/-miş/-muş/-müş (nəqli keçmiş)
Inferential Reported Past
The -mış suffix indicates that the speaker did not see the action happen but heard about it, inferred it from results, or is describing a past action with current relevance (like 'have done').
How It Works
The -mış/-miş/-muş/-müş suffix is a versatile tool in Azerbaijani. Its primary functions include:
- Reported Information (Hearsay): When you tell a story or relay news you didn't see yourself. Example: O, Bakıya köçmüş. (I heard he moved to Baku).
- Inference: When you see the result of an action and conclude it happened. Example: Yağış yağmış. (It [evidently] rained—because the ground is wet).
- Present Perfect: In the first person, it often functions as a neutral 'have done' statement. Example: Mən gəlmişəm. (I have arrived).
- Mirativity: Expressing surprise at a newly discovered fact, often used with sən demə (it turns out).
Conjugation:
It uses Type I personal endings (similar to the verb 'to be'):
- Mən gəlmişəm (I have come)
- Sən gəlmişsən (You have come)
- O gəlmişdir (He/she has come)
Note: In the Republic of Azerbaijan, the suffix -ıb is often used instead of -mış in the 2nd and 3rd person for simple perfective meanings.
Examples (4)
- Deyirlər ki, o, yeni ev almış.
They say that he [reportedly] bought a new house.
Word by Word: They say that he new house bought.
Here, -mış is used for hearsay because the speaker is repeating what others say.
- Sən demə, o, çoxdan getmiş!
It turns out he left a long time ago!
Word by Word: You not say, he long ago left!
Used with 'sən demə' to express surprise at a discovered fact.
- Mən bu kitabı oxumuşam.
I have read this book.
Word by Word: I this book read-have.
In the first person, this functions as a standard Present Perfect (action completed with current relevance).
- Uşaq yatmış.
The child has [apparently] fallen asleep.
Word by Word: Child slept.
The speaker infers the child is asleep because it is quiet, rather than having watched the child fall asleep.
Common Mistakes
Using -mış for actions you personally witnessed.
Mən dünən onu gördüm, o gəlmiş.Mən dünən onu gördüm, o gəldi.If you saw the person arrive and are simply telling it, use the definite past -dı. The ending -mış is for news you learned from others, or for something that surprises you when you notice it.
Choosing the pluperfect where 'I have come' is meant.
Different MeaningMən gəlmişdim.Mən gəlmişəm.'Mən gəlmişdim' is a good sentence meaning 'I had come' (pluperfect). For the simple 'I have come (apparently)', use 'Mən gəlmişəm' with the -əm ending.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the reported past, learners must first learn four-way vowel harmony to correctly apply the suffix variants. It is also important to understand the basic witnessed past (-dı) to distinguish between direct knowledge and reported/inferred information. Finally, knowing how to attach personal endings to this specific tense marker is required for full sentence construction.
Related Patterns
- -dı/-di/-du/-düSimple Witnessed Past
The direct opposite of -mış; used for witnessed or certain past events.
Level 2 - -ıb/-ib/-ub/-üb (nəqli keçmiş)Reported Perfect Past
A closely related suffix often used interchangeably in the 3rd person for the perfective sense.
Level 3 - imiş (nəqli keçmiş)Reported Copular Past
The reported version of the verb 'to be', used for reported states rather than actions.
Level 3 - sən deməIt Turns Out Marker
An idiomatic expression meaning 'it turns out' that frequently triggers the use of -mış.
Level 5 - -mış/-mişmiReported Past Questions
The question form of this tense.
Level 3 - -mamış/-məmişNegative Reported Past
The negative form of the reported past.
Level 3
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Patterns that build on this one.
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