-dıq/-dik (feli sifət)
Possessive Relative Participle
The -dıq/-dik suffix (plus a possessive) turns a verb into an adjective that describes a noun. It is used when the noun is the object of the verb, not the subject.
How It Works
The -dıq/-dik possessive relative participle is the standard way to form object relative clauses in Azerbaijani.
1. Formation:
The structure follows this formula: Verb Stem + -dıq⁴ + Possessive Suffix.
- al- (to buy) + -dıq + -ım (my) = aldığım (that I bought)
- gör- (to see) + -dük + -ün (your) = gördüyün (that you see)
2. Consonant Mutation:
A critical rule in Azerbaijani phonology applies here. When a possessive suffix (which starts with a vowel) is added, the final -q changes to -ğ and -k changes to -y.
Example: yazdıq + -ım → yazdığım.
3. Subject Marking:
The subject of the relative clause must be linked to the participle using the genitive case.
- Pronoun Subjects: Personal pronouns like mən or sən are put in the genitive (mənim, sənin) but are often dropped because the possessive suffix on the participle already indicates the person. Example: (Mənim) yazdığım məktub (The letter I wrote).
- Noun Subjects: If the subject is a noun, the genitive case is mandatory. Example: Həsənin aldığı kitab (The book Həsən bought), not Həsən aldığı kitab.
4. Tense Nuance:
While often called a 'past' participle, it actually covers non-future actions. It can refer to something completed in the past or something currently happening. For future relative clauses, use the -acaq + possessive construction instead.
Examples (4)
- Dünən aldığım kitab masanın üstündədir.
The book I bought yesterday is on the table.
Word by Word: Yesterday bought-my book table's top-its-at-is.
Here, 'kitab' is the object of 'almaq' (to buy). The suffix -dığım shows that 'I' am the one who bought it.
- Sənin dediyin sözləri heç vaxt unutmayacağam.
I will never forget the words you said.
Word by Word: Your said-your words-the never forget-not-will-I.
The noun 'sözlər' (words) is the object. The possessive -in matches the subject 'sən' (you).
- Bizim qaldığımız otel çox rahat idi.
The hotel where we stayed was very comfortable.
Word by Word: Our stayed-our hotel very comfortable was.
Even though 'hotel' is a location, Azerbaijani uses the -dıq construction to describe the place 'we stayed at'.
- Anamın bişirdiyi yemək çox ləzzətlidir.
The food my mother cooked is very delicious.
Word by Word: Mother-my-genitive cooked-her food very delicious-is.
The subject 'Anam' takes the genitive case, and the verb takes the 3rd person possessive -i (mutated to -y-i).
Common Mistakes
Dropping the possessive suffix.
Oxuduq kitab maraqlıdır.Oxuduğum kitab maraqlıdır.In Azerbaijani, the relative participle MUST have a possessive suffix to indicate who is performing the action. 'Oxuduq' alone is just a past tense verb ('we read').
Forgetting consonant mutation.
Sevdikim mahnı budur.Sevdiyim mahnı budur.When adding a vowel-starting possessive suffix to -dıq/-dik, the 'k' must change to 'y' and 'q' must change to 'ğ'.
Confusing subject and object participles.
Gəldiyim adam qardaşımdır.Gələn adam qardaşımdır.If the man is the one 'coming' (the subject), use -an/-ən. Use -dıq only if the man is the object (e.g., 'the man I saw').
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the -dıq/-dik possessive relative, a learner must first be comfortable with the genitive-possessive construction (noun phrases), as this pattern essentially treats a verb like a possessed noun. Knowledge of possessive suffixes and the basic past tense marker is necessary to correctly form and interpret the participle.
- Genitive-possessive noun phrase
The possessive relative clause functions like a genitive-possessive construction where the subject of the relative clause takes the genitive case and the participle takes a possessive suffix.
Level 2 - Case after possessive suffix
Understanding how possessive suffixes attach to stems is essential because the -dıq/-dik participle requires possessive endings to indicate the subject of the action.
Level 2 - -dı/-di/-du/-düSimple Witnessed Past
The relative participle is morphologically derived from the past tense marker, and understanding its vowel harmony and consonant behavior is a prerequisite.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- -an/-ən (feli sifət)Active Attributive Participle
The subject-relative counterpart; used when the modified noun is the one performing the action.
Level 4 - -(n)ın/-(n)in/-(n)un/-(n)ünGenitive Possessor Case
Used to mark the subject of the relative clause (the 'doer').
Level 1 - -ım/-im/-um/-ümFirst-person Singular Possessive
One of the possessive suffixes required to complete the -dıq construction.
Level 2 - -dığını/-diyini (tamamlıq)Factual Complement Clause
A related structure that uses the same participle to create 'that...' noun clauses (e.g., 'I know that you went').
Level 4 - -acağım/-əcəyimPossessive Future Relative
The future-tense version of this object relative construction.
Level 4 - ki (tamamlıq cümləsi)Complement Clause with Ki
An alternative way to form relative clauses often used in casual speech.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- -madıq/-mədikNegative Possessive RelativeLevel 4
- Participles from causativesLevel 4
- Genitive Noun + -dığıGenitive-subject Relative ClauseLevel 4
- Case-marked participlesLevel 4
- Layered verbal-noun suffix orderLevel 4
- -dığını/-diyiniFactive Object NominalizationLevel 5
- -dığı qənaətinə gəlməkConclusion ComplementLevel 6
- -dığındanCondensed Causal Nominal ClauseLevel 6
Words in This Pattern
Practice -dıq/-dik (feli sifət) in Bubblegum
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