-madı/-mədi

Negative Simple Past

Level 2

The suffix -madı/-mədi is the negative form of the simple past tense. It indicates that a specific action did not happen in the past, based on direct knowledge or certainty.

How It Works

The negative simple past (şühudi keçmiş zamanın inkarı) is used for definite, witnessed events.

1. Formation:
It is formed by adding the negative suffix -ma/-mə directly to the verb stem, followed by the past tense marker and past-tense personal endings. Because the negative suffix ends in a vowel, the past tense marker always uses the 'd' variant (-dı/-di) and never assimilates to 't'.

2. Personal Endings:
This tense uses the Type II personal endings. After the negative suffix and past marker, the endings are:
• -m (mən gəl-mə-di-m)
• -n (sən gəl-mə-di-n)
• Ø (o gəl-mə-di)
• -q/-k (biz gəl-mə-di-k)
• -nız/-niz (siz gəl-mə-di-niz)
• -lar/-lər (onlar gəl-mə-di-lər)

3. Vowel Harmony:
Because the negative suffix ends in 'a' or 'ə', the following past tense suffix can only be -dı or -di. The rounded versions (-du/-dü) are never used in this negative form, even if the verb stem has rounded vowels (e.g., oxu-ma-dı, not oxu-mu-du).

4. Stress:
In Azerbaijani, the negative suffix -ma/-mə is unstressed. The stress falls on the syllable immediately before the negation. For example, in gəlmədim (I didn't come), the stress is on gəl.

5. Usage Nuance:
This form is used when the speaker is certain about the non-occurrence. To express that something 'hasn't happened yet' or to report hearsay, speakers use the reported negative instead.

Examples (5)

  1. Mən dünən kitabxanaya getmədim.

    I did not go to the library yesterday.

    Word by Word: I yesterday library-to go-not-past-I

    A specific action (going to the library) that did not happen at a specific time (yesterday).

  2. O, mənim sualıma cavab vermədi.

    He/she did not answer my question.

    Word by Word: He/she my question-to answer give-not-past

    The third person singular uses the suffix -madı/-mədi without an additional personal ending.

  3. Biz o filmi bəyənmədik.

    We did not like that movie.

    Word by Word: We that movie-acc like-not-past-we

    Note the first person plural ending -k attached after the past tense suffix -di.

  4. Sən niyə çörək almadın?

    Why didn't you buy bread?

    Word by Word: You why bread buy-not-past-you

    A question asking about a specific failed action in the past.

  5. Uşaqlar dərslərini oxumadılar.

    The children did not study their lessons.

    Word by Word: Children lessons-their-acc read-not-past-plural

    Even though 'oxu' has a rounded vowel 'u', the suffix remains '-madı' because of the negative '-ma'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using rounded vowels in the past suffix after negation.

    O, kitabı oxumudu.
    O, kitabı oxumadı.

    The past tense suffix follows the vowel of the negative suffix (-ma/-mə), not the verb root. Since -ma ends in 'a', only -dı can follow it.

  • Incorrect stress placement.

    gəlməDİM
    GƏLmədim

    Learners often stress the final syllable. However, the negative suffix -ma/-mə rejects stress, pushing it to the syllable before it.

  • Choosing the nominal negative where a negated action is meant.

    Different MeaningMən dünən evdə deyildim.
    Mən dünən gəlmədim.

    This is a good sentence: 'I was not at home yesterday' describes a state. To say 'I did not come', which negates an action, use -madı/-mədi on the verb.

How It Connects

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-madı/-mədiLevel 2Negative Simple Past

Learn This First

To understand the negative simple past, learners must be familiar with Azerbaijani vowel harmony to correctly attach the suffixes. Additionally, familiarity with how verbs are negated in other tenses (like the present) helps in recognizing the -ma/-mə negation marker used here.

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Words in This Pattern

-mə