-madıq/-mədik

Negative Possessive Relative

Level 4

The -madıq/-mədik relative pattern creates a description for a noun that someone did not do something to. It functions like an adjective phrase: oxumadığım kitab (the book I didn't read).

How It Works

The -madıq/-mədik pattern is the negative version of the -dıq/-dik possessive relative. It is used for past, present-perfect, or general present contexts.

1. Formation:
The structure is: Verb Stem + -ma/-mə (negation) + -dıq/-dik/-duq/-dük (participle) + Possessive Suffix.

2. Consonant Mutation:
When adding a possessive suffix that starts with a vowel (like -ım, -ın, or -ı), the final -q changes to -ğ and -k changes to -y. For example:

  • görmədik + -im → görmədiyim (that I don't see / that I didn't see)
  • almadıq + -ın → almadığın (that you don't buy / that you didn't buy)

Note: Mutation does not occur when using the -ları/-ləri suffix because it starts with a consonant (e.g., almadıqları).

3. Usage:
This pattern is essential to become proficient in formal and written Azerbaijani. It functions as a relative clause modifying a noun. While spoken language sometimes uses ki constructions, this Turkic participle is the standard way to describe nouns with complex negative actions across past and present timeframes.

Examples (4)

  1. Oxumadığım məktub masanın üstündədir.

    The letter I haven't read is on the table.

    Word by Word: Read-not-which-my letter table-of top-its-at-is.

    Here, 'oxumadığım' describes the letter (the object). The '-ım' suffix shows that 'I' am the one who didn't read it.

  2. Onun bizə demədiyi bir sirri var.

    He has a secret that he didn't tell us.

    Word by Word: His us-to tell-not-which-his one secret-his exists.

    The word 'demədiyi' uses the 3rd person singular possessive '-i' to show that 'he' is the one keeping the secret.

  3. Tanımadığınız insanlara qapını açmayın.

    Do not open the door to people you do not know.

    Word by Word: Know-not-which-your people-to door-the open-do-not.

    The '-ınız' suffix makes this plural or polite 'you'. It describes the 'people' as the ones not known by you.

  4. Görmədiyimiz yerlər haqqında danışdıq.

    We talked about the places we haven't seen.

    Word by Word: See-not-which-our places about we-talked.

    The '-imiz' suffix indicates 'we'. The places are the objects that were not seen.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the mandatory possessive suffix.

    almadıq kitab
    almadığım kitab

    In Azerbaijani, non-subject relative clauses must have a possessive suffix to indicate the agent. 'Almadıq kitab' is incomplete; you must specify who didn't buy it (e.g., -ım for 'I').

  • Confusing the object relative with the subject relative.

    yeməyən yemək
    yemədiyim yemək

    'Yeməyən' means 'that which does not eat' (subject). Since food doesn't eat, you must use 'yemədiyim' (the food I didn't eat) where the food is the object.

How It Connects

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

-madıq/-mədikLevel 4Negative Possessive Relative

Learn This First

To understand the negative possessive relative, learners must first be familiar with the affirmative version of the -dıq/-dik relative clause. They also need to understand how verbs are negated using -ma/-mə and how possessive suffixes are applied to verbal stems to indicate the subject of the relative clause.

Words in This Pattern

-dik-mə