-ası/-əsi

Potential or Worth-doing Participle

Level 6

The -ası/-əsi suffix creates a verbal adjective (participle) that adds a modal layer to the future. It doesn't just say something will happen; it says it should, must, or is worthy of happening.

How It Works

The -ası/-əsi suffix serves two primary functions in Azerbaijani: it acts as a future participle (verbal adjective) and as the 'Necessity Mood' (Lazım şəkli) when used as a predicate.

1. Formation:
It follows two-way vowel harmony:

  • -ası: After back vowels (a, ı, o, u). Example: yaz-ıl-ası (worth being written).
  • -əsi: After front vowels (e, ə, i, ö, ü). Example: gör-ül-əsi (worth being seen).

If the verb stem ends in a vowel, the buffer consonant -y- is required (e.g., oxu-y-ası).

2. Functional Roles:

  • As a Participle (Attributive): It describes a noun as having the quality of being 'worth' or 'destined' for an action. It often uses the passive voice in this role. Example: görüləsi işlər (tasks to be done/worth doing).
  • As a Mood (Predicative): When used with personal endings, it indicates a scheduled plan or destiny. Example: Mən sabah ora gedəsiyəm (I am destined/supposed to go there tomorrow).

3. Past Tense (Was supposed to):
To express a past destiny or an action that was supposed to happen, the past copula idi is used. Example: Biz dünən görüşəsi idik (We were supposed to meet yesterday).

4. Negation:
Crucially, this form is not negated with -ma/-mə. Instead, it uses deyil after the participle: görəsi deyiləm (I am not destined to see / I won't see).

5. Register:
While -malı/-məli is more common for everyday obligations, -ası/-əsi is essential for expressing the specific nuance of 'destiny' or 'worthiness' in formal and literary contexts.

Examples (5)

  1. Görüləsi işlərimiz hələ çoxdur.

    We still have many things to be done (worth doing).

    Word by Word: To-be-seen work-our still much-is.

    Here, 'görüləsi' describes 'işlər' (works/tasks) as having the quality of needing to be completed.

  2. Bu, hər kəs tərəfindən oxunası bir əsərdir.

    This is a work worth reading by everyone.

    Word by Word: This, every person by to-be-read one work-is.

    The suffix emphasizes that the book has the quality of being 'worthy' of being read.

  3. Deyiləsi söz qalmadı, hər şey aydındır.

    There is nothing left to be said; everything is clear.

    Word by Word: To-be-said word remained-not, every thing clear-is.

    In this context, it implies there is no 'necessity' or 'potential' for further words.

  4. Mən sabah rayona gedəsiyəm.

    I am to go to the region tomorrow.

    Word by Word: I tomorrow region-to to-be-go-am.

    When used with a personal ending, it indicates a plan or a scheduled necessity.

  5. Bu, heç vaxt unudulası deyil.

    This is not something to be forgotten.

    Word by Word: This, no time to-be-forgotten not-is.

    The negative is formed using 'deyil'. This indicates that the event is not destined or worthy of being forgotten.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the -ma/-mə suffix for negation.

    Mən oraya getməyəsiyəm.
    Mən oraya gedəsi deyiləm.

    As a predicate, the -ası mood is negated with 'deyil' ('gedəsi deyiləm') instead of the internal negation suffix.

  • Forgetting the buffer consonant -y- after vowel stems.

    oxuası kitab
    oxuyası kitab

    If a verb stem ends in a vowel (like 'oxu-'), you must insert 'y' before adding '-ası' to prevent two vowels from clashing.

  • Using -ası for simple future predictions.

    Different MeaningSabah yağış yağasıdır.
    Sabah yağış yağacaq.

    Use '-acaq' for neutral predictions. '-ası' implies necessity or worth, which sounds unnatural for a simple weather forecast unless you mean the rain is 'destined' to fall.

How It Connects

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

-ası/-əsiLevel 6Potential or Worth-doing Participle

Learn This First

The -ası/-əsi pattern is a literary or evaluative participle used to describe something that is 'fit to be' or 'worth' doing. To understand it, learners should already be familiar with how participles function as adjectives in Azerbaijani (like the -an/-ən suffix) and how vowel harmony dictates suffix selection.