-ma/-mə + Possessive Ending

Possessed Verbal Noun

Level 4

The possessed verbal noun turns a verb into a noun phrase that includes a 'subject' (e.g., 'my coming', 'his speaking'). It is the standard way to express necessity or specific desires in Azerbaijani.

How It Works

While the plain infinitive refers to an action in general, the possessed verbal noun specifies the performer. This is essential when using predicates like lazımdır (necessary) or vacibdir (important).

1. Formation for 1st and 2nd Persons:
Modern Azerbaijani uses the long stem. When a possessive suffix (which starts with a vowel) is added, the final consonant undergoes a mutation:

  • -maq becomes -mağ- (e.g., oxumağım - my reading)
  • -mək becomes -məy- (e.g., gəlməyim - my coming)

2. Formation for 3rd Person:
The 3rd person uses the short stem -ma/-mə followed by the 3rd person possessive suffix -(s)ı/-(s)i/-(s)u/-(s)ü.

  • gəlməsi (his/her/its coming)
  • oxuması (his/her/its reading)

3. Usage with Cases:
If the possessed verbal noun is the object of another verb, it must take the appropriate case ending after the possessive suffix. For example: Gəlməyini istəyirəm (I want your coming/I want you to come).

Examples (4)

  1. Sənin bura gəlməyin vacibdir.

    It is important that you come here.

    Word by Word: Your here coming-your important-is.

    Uses the 2nd person singular possessive on the long stem (gəlmək -> gəlməy-in).

  2. Onun belə danışması xoşuma gəlmir.

    I don't like the way he talks.

    Word by Word: His so speaking-his my-liking-to doesn't-come.

    Uses the 3rd person short stem (-ma + -sı) to describe a specific person's action.

  3. Bizim bu işi görməyimiz lazımdır.

    We need to do this work.

    Word by Word: Our this work-acc doing-our necessary-is.

    Uses the 1st person plural possessive on the long stem (görmək -> görməy-imiz).

  4. Sizin oxumağınızı istəyirəm.

    I want you to read.

    Word by Word: Your reading-your-acc I-want.

    Shows the accusative case (-ı) added after the 2nd person plural possessive (-ınız).

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving the person in the nominative before an infinitive with lazımdır.

    Mən gəlmək lazımdır.
    Mənim gəlməyim lazımdır.

    With lazımdır, put the person in the genitive and add a possessive ending to the infinitive (mənim gəlməyim), or put the person in the dative before a bare infinitive (mənə gəlmək).

  • Forgetting the consonant mutation (k to y, q to ğ).

    Sənin getməkin vacibdir.
    Sənin getməyin vacibdir.

    When a vowel-starting possessive suffix is added to the infinitive, 'k' must change to 'y' and 'q' must change to 'ğ'.

How It Connects

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-ma/-mə + Possessive EndingLevel 4Possessed Verbal Noun

Learn This First

To understand the possessed verbal noun, you must first be comfortable with the genitive-possessive relationship (noun phrases), as this pattern treats an action like a possessed object. You also need to recognize the -ma/-mə suffix and how possessive endings are attached to stems ending in vowels.

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Words in This Pattern

-mə