-mı/-mi/-mu/-mü (keçmiş zaman)

Past Yes-no Question

Level 2

The particle -mı/-mi/-mu/-mü attaches to the end of a verb to turn a statement into a question. It is used in everyday speech as well as in writing (Gəldinmi?), and intonation alone can also mark a question.

How It Works

In Azerbaijani, yes-no questions are formed with the interrogative particle -mı/-mi/-mu/-mü in everyday speech and in writing. In speech, raising the voice alone can also mark a question.

1. Vowel Harmony:
The particle changes based on the last vowel of the verb:

  • -mı: after a, ı (e.g., aldımı)
  • -mi: after e, i, ə (e.g., gəldimi)
  • -mu: after o, u (e.g., oxudumu)
  • -mü: after ö, ü (e.g., gördümü)

2. Placement and Stress:
In Azerbaijani, this particle is an enclitic suffix. It attaches directly to the end of the verb, following the past-tense personal endings. For example: gəldin (you came) + mi = gəldinmi? (did you come?).

Important Phonological Rule: The interrogative particle is never stressed. The word stress remains on the syllable immediately preceding it (e.g., gəl-DİN-mi).

3. Third Person Singular:
Since the 3rd person singular in the simple past has no personal suffix, the particle attaches directly to the tense marker (e.g., gəldi + mi = gəldimi?).

4. Usage Restrictions:
This particle is only for "yes-no" questions. It is never used in sentences that already contain a question word like kim (who), nə (what), or harada (where).

5. Register:
This particle is used in casual conversation as well as in formal speech, literature, and news broadcasts.

Examples (4)

  1. Dünən kitabxanaya getdinmi?

    Did you go to the library yesterday?

    Word by Word: Yesterday library-to go-past-you-question?

    A formal way to ask a question using the 2nd person singular past tense.

  2. O, məktubu oxudumu?

    Did he/she read the letter?

    Word by Word: He/she letter-the read-past-question?

    The particle -mu is used here to match the 'u' in the verb 'oxudu'.

  3. Siz bu filmi gördünüzmü?

    Did you (plural/polite) see this movie?

    Word by Word: You this movie-the see-past-you-question?

    The particle -mü follows the rounded front vowel 'ü' in the personal ending.

  4. Qonaqlar gəldilərmi?

    Did the guests come?

    Word by Word: Guests come-past-they-question?

    In the 3rd person plural, the particle follows the plural suffix -lər.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing the particle as a separate word.

    Gəldin mi?
    Gəldinmi?

    In Azerbaijani, the question particle is always attached to the verb as a suffix, unlike in Turkish.

  • Both are correct, but the two questions sound different.

    Different MeaningSalam, necəsən? Gəldinmi?
    Salam, necəsən? Gəldin?

    'Gəldinmi?' is a neutral yes/no question and is fine in everyday speech. 'Gəldin?' with rising intonation sounds like checking or being surprised that the person came.

  • Placing the particle before the personal suffix.

    Gəldimi-n?
    Gəldinmi?

    The question particle must always be the very last element in the verb chain.

How It Connects

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

-mı/-mi/-mu/-mü (keçmiş zaman)Level 2Past Yes-no Question

Learn This First

To form past tense yes-no questions, learners must understand how to conjugate verbs in the past tense and how to apply the four-way vowel harmony to the question particle -mı.