-a-a/-ə-ə (reduplikasiyalı zərf feli)

Reduplicated Simultaneous Converb

Level 6

The -a/-ə reduplikasiyalı zərf feli (reduplicated simultaneous converb) is the standard way to express 'while doing' or 'in the manner of doing' in Azerbaijani. It is formed by repeating the verb stem with the -a/-ə suffix.

How It Works

The reduplicated simultaneous converb is a vital tool for adding descriptive detail to actions.

1. Formation:
The suffix follows vowel harmony:

  • -a... -a: Used after back vowels (a, ı, o, u). Example: qaça-qaça (running).
  • -ə... -ə: Used after front vowels (e, ə, i, ö, ü). Example: gülə-gülə (laughing).

If the verb stem ends in a vowel, the buffer consonant -y- is required, resulting in -ya/-yə. Example: oxuya-oxuya (singing/reading).

2. Subject Consistency:
A core rule for this converb is that the subject of the background action must be the same as the subject of the main verb. For example, in 'He entered laughing', 'he' is the one performing both actions.

3. Negation:
Unlike many other verb forms, the reduplicated -a/-ə form is almost never used in the negative. To express 'without doing', you should use the -madan/-mədən pattern instead.

4. Lexicalized Idioms and Intensification:
Reduplication serves to intensify the action or emphasize its continuous nature. Some words using this suffix have become fixed adverbial expressions. For example, dönə-dönə means 'repeatedly', yana-yana means 'bitterly' or 'painfully', and baxa-baxa can mean 'staring' or 'helplessly'.

5. Comparison with other patterns:

  • Compared to -araq/-ərək, the reduplicated form is more common in speech and emphasizes the process rather than just the method.
  • Compared to -ıb/-ib/-ub/-üb, which shows one action after another, this pattern shows two actions at once.
  • Compared to -anda/-əndə ('when'), this pattern focuses on the duration of the background action rather than a specific point in time.

Examples (5)

  1. O, gülə-gülə otağa girdi.

    He entered the room laughing.

    Word by Word: He, laughing-laughing room-to entered.

    The action of laughing is happening simultaneously as he enters the room.

  2. Uşaqlar qaça-qaça gəldilər.

    The children came running.

    Word by Word: Children running-running came.

    Describes the manner (running) in which the children arrived.

  3. Mahnı oxuya-oxuya işləyirdi.

    He was working while singing a song.

    Word by Word: Song singing-singing he-was-working.

    Note the buffer -y- in 'oxuya' because the stem 'oxu' ends in a vowel.

  4. Ağlaya-ağlaya hər şeyi danışdı.

    She told everything while crying.

    Word by Word: Crying-crying every thing-acc she-told.

    The crying is the background state during the entire explanation.

  5. Mən sənə dönə-dönə dedim.

    I told you repeatedly.

    Word by Word: I you-to turning-turning said.

    This is a lexicalized idiom where 'dönə-dönə' means 'repeatedly' or 'over and over'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a single suffix instead of reduplicating it.

    O, gülə gəldi.
    O, gülə-gülə gəldi.

    In modern Azerbaijani, the suffix must be repeated to function as a simultaneous converb. A single '-a' is usually reserved for fixed idioms or archaic forms.

  • This sentence is fine, but it means opening the door while going in.

    Different MeaningQapını aça-aça içəri girdi.
    Qapını açıb içəri girdi.

    With -a/-ə the two actions happen together ('while opening the door, he went in'). If he opened it first and then entered, use the sequential converb -ıb, as in the right sentence.

  • Forgetting the buffer -y- on vowel stems.

    Gözləə-gözləə yoruldum.
    Gözləyə-gözləyə yoruldum.

    When a verb stem ends in a vowel (like gözlə-), you must insert -y- before adding the -ə suffix.

How It Connects

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

-a-a/-ə-ə (reduplikasiyalı zərf feli)Level 6Reduplicated Simultaneous Converb

Learn This First

To understand the reduplicated simultaneous converb (-a/-ə ... -a/-ə), learners must be familiar with the basic -a/-ə suffixation rules, including vowel harmony and the use of the buffer consonant -y- for vowel-ending stems. These rules are typically first encountered with the dative case.