kimi

Similarity with Kimi

Level 2

The postposition kimi is primarily used to compare things (like/as). Depending on the case of the preceding word, it can also mean 'until' or 'as soon as'.

How It Works

The word kimi is a postposition that changes meaning based on the case of the preceding word:

  • Similarity (Like/As): Use the nominative case for nouns (e.g., uşaq kimi) and the third-person plural pronoun (onlar kimi). However, singular personal pronouns (mən, sən, o), plural pronouns (biz, siz), and demonstratives (bu, o) must be in the genitive case (e.g., mənim kimi, bunun kimi).
  • Distance/Time (Until): When the preceding word is in the dative case, kimi means 'until' or 'as far as' (e.g., axşama kimi).
  • Immediate Action: When attached to an active participle, it means 'as soon as' (e.g., gələn kimi).

Examples (6)

  1. O, atası kimi cəsurdur.

    He is brave like his father.

    Word by Word: He, father-his like brave-is.

    Here 'ata' (father) is in the nominative case to show similarity.

  2. Sən mənim kimi danışırsan.

    You talk like me.

    Word by Word: You my like talk-you.

    With the pronoun 'mən' (I), we must use the genitive form 'mənim' before 'kimi'.

  3. Onlar kimi olmaq istəyirəm.

    I want to be like them.

    Word by Word: They like to-be I-want.

    Unlike other personal pronouns, 'onlar' (they) stays in the nominative case when used with 'kimi'.

  4. Bunun kimi bir kitab axtarıram.

    I am looking for a book like this one.

    Word by Word: This-of like one book I-look-for.

    Demonstrative pronouns like 'bu' (this) take the genitive case ('bunun') to show similarity.

  5. O, gələn kimi mənə zəng et.

    Call me as soon as he comes.

    Word by Word: He, coming like to-me call do.

    When 'kimi' follows an active participle, it expresses an immediate action ('as soon as').

  6. Səhərə kimi işlədim.

    I worked until morning.

    Word by Word: Morning-to until I-worked.

    The dative case 'səhərə' changes the meaning to a time limit.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the nominative case for singular personal pronouns or demonstratives.

    Mən kimi oxu.
    Mənim kimi oxu.

    The personal pronouns mən, sən, biz and siz take the genitive before kimi (mənim kimi). onlar kimi uses the nominative. Words like bu can take either (bu kimi and bunun kimi are both used).

  • Confusing similarity with distance due to case errors.

    Məktəbə kimi gözəldir.
    Məktəb kimi gözəldir.

    If you say 'Məktəbə kimi', it means 'Until the school'. To say 'Like a school', you must use the nominative 'Məktəb kimi'.

How It Connects

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kimiLevel 2Similarity with Kimi

Learn This First

To use 'kimi' for similarity, you need to understand how it interacts with different noun forms. It follows the nominative case for general nouns but requires the genitive case for personal pronouns (except for the 3rd person plural).

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kimi