-ma/-mə (əmr inkarı)

Negative Imperative

Level 2

The negative imperative (prohibitive) is formed by adding -ma or -mə directly to the verb stem. It is used for commands, requests, and warnings.

How It Works

The negative imperative is the standard way to express 'Don't...' in Azerbaijani. It follows two-way vowel harmony:

  • -ma: Used after back vowels (a, ı, o, u).
  • -mə: Used after front vowels (e, ə, i, ö, ü).

1. Stress Placement:
Unlike most Azerbaijani suffixes, the negative -ma/-mə is unaccented. The stress falls on the syllable immediately preceding it. For example, in yazma (don't write), the stress is on yaz-.

2. Conjugation Paradigm:
The suffix is placed between the verb stem and the personal ending:

  • 2nd Person Singular (Informal): Stem + -ma/-mə (e.g., gəlmə - don't come).
  • 2nd Person Plural/Polite: Stem + -ma-y-ın / -mə-y-in (e.g., açmayın - don't open). Note the buffer 'y'.
  • 3rd Person: Stem + -ma-sın / -mə-sin (e.g., getməsin - let him/her not go).

3. Emphasis with 'ha':
In casual speech, the particle ha is often added at the end of a negative command to add a sense of warning or a strong reminder (e.g., Unutma ha! - Don't forget, mind you!).

Examples (5)

  1. Bura gəlmə!

    Don't come here!

    Word by Word: Here come-not!

    A direct, informal negative command using the 2nd person singular.

  2. Zəhmət olmasa, qapını açmayın.

    Please, do not open the door.

    Word by Word: Trouble if-not-be, door-the open-not-you.

    A polite or plural negative command using the 2nd person plural suffix.

  3. Gecikmə ha!

    Don't be late, okay!

    Word by Word: Be-late-not [warning]!

    The particle 'ha' adds a layer of warning or emphasis to the prohibition.

  4. Qoy o, bu kitabı oxumasın.

    Let him not read this book.

    Word by Word: Let he, this book-the read-not-him.

    The 3rd person negative imperative acts as a 'jussive' (letting someone not do something).

  5. Biz ora getməyək.

    Let's not go there.

    Word by Word: We there go-not-us.

    The 1st person plural form expresses a collective suggestion to refrain from an action.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing stress on the negative suffix.

    Gəlmə́!
    Gə́lmə!

    In the negative imperative, the stress must fall on the syllable before -ma/-mə. Stressing the suffix can make it sound like a noun (e.g., 'gəlmə' meaning 'a newcomer').

  • Using 'yox' to negate a command.

    Yox gəl!
    Gəlmə!

    Azerbaijani negates verbs with suffixes, not with the word 'yox' (no/none).

  • Forgetting the buffer 'y' in plural forms.

    Gəlməin
    Gəlməyin

    When adding the plural ending -in/-ın to the negative suffix -mə/-ma, a buffer 'y' is required to separate the two vowels.

How It Connects

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-ma/-mə (əmr inkarı)Level 2Negative Imperative

Learn This First

To understand the negative imperative, you first need to know how to form the basic imperative (commands) for both singular and plural subjects. You also need to be familiar with two-way vowel harmony to correctly choose between the -ma and -mə suffixes.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

And 3 more in the full list.

Words in This Pattern

-mə