-ması üçün

Nominalized Purpose Clause

Level 5

The pattern -ması üçün creates a 'purpose clause' (in order for...). It is used in formal contexts or when the person/thing performing the purpose is different from the person/thing performing the main action.

How It Works

This construction is a hallmark of Level 5 (Advanced) Azerbaijani, frequently found in academic, legal, and journalistic writing.

1. Structure:
The formula is: [Subject + Genitive] + [Verb Stem + -ma/-mə + Possessive] + üçün.

  • Genitive Subject: The entity performing the action in the purpose clause must take the genitive suffix (e.g., tələbənin, yolun).
  • Possessive Agreement: The verb must agree with its subject using possessive suffixes. While 3rd person singular (-ması/-məsi) is most common for abstract or general goals, you must use the full paradigm for specific subjects: -mam/-məm (1st sing.), -man/-mən (2nd sing.), -mamız/-məmiz (1st plur.), and -manız/-məniz (2nd plur.).
  • Vowel Harmony: The verbal noun suffix follows 2-way vowel harmony (-ma/-mə). The possessive suffixes then attach directly to this stem; for 1st and 2nd person forms, this results in a 2-way choice, while the 3rd person plural (-ları/-ləri) also follows 2-way harmony.

2. Usage Nuance:
Use this pattern when you want to say 'so that X happens' or 'in order for Y to do Z'. If the subject of both parts of the sentence is the same, use the simpler -maq üçün instead.

3. Register:
In casual speech, speakers often prefer using ki with the optative mood (e.g., ...ki, gəlsin) because -ması üçün can sound quite 'bookish' or formal.

Examples (4)

  1. Yolun açılması üçün texnika cəlb edildi.

    Machinery was brought in for the road to be opened.

    Word by Word: Road-of opening-its for technique involved was-done.

    Here, 'the road' (yolun) is the genitive subject of the purpose clause 'to be opened' (açılması).

  2. Tələbələrin mövzunu anlaması üçün əlavə vəsaitlər paylanıldı.

    Additional materials were distributed so that the students could understand the topic.

    Word by Word: Students-of topic-acc understanding-their for extra materials distributed-was.

    The subject of the purpose (students) is different from the implied agent distributing the materials.

  3. Sənin burada qalman üçün hər şey hazırdır.

    Everything is ready for you to stay here.

    Word by Word: Your here staying-your for every thing ready-is.

    This shows the 2nd person singular form (-man) agreeing with 'Sənin' (your).

  4. Bitkilərin normal böyüməsi üçün suvarma vacibdir.

    Irrigation is essential for the plants to grow normally.

    Word by Word: Plants-of normal growing-their for irrigation essential-is.

    A typical scientific/formal statement using the nominalized purpose structure.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the nominative case for the subject of the purpose clause.

    Məsələ həll olunması üçün çalışırıq.
    Məsələnin həll olunması üçün çalışırıq.

    The subject of a nominalized clause with a possessive suffix must be in the genitive case (Məsələnin).

  • Confusing purpose (-ması üçün) with reason (-dığı üçün).

    Yağış yağması üçün gələ bilmədim.
    Yağış yağdığı üçün gələ bilmədim.

    -ması üçün means 'in order for it to rain', whereas -dığı üçün means 'because it rained'. Use the latter for reasons.

How It Connects

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

-ması üçünLevel 5Nominalized Purpose Clause

Learn This First

To understand '-ması üçün', you need to know how to form verbal nouns using '-ma/-mə' and how to attach possessive suffixes to them to indicate who is performing the action. Additionally, you must understand how the postposition 'üçün' functions to express purpose or benefit.

Words in This Pattern