-arkən/-ərkən

Simultaneous Time Clause

Level 4

Use -arkən/-ərkən to link two actions that happen simultaneously. It functions like the English 'while' or 'as'.

How It Works

The -arkən/-ərkən converb is the primary way to express simultaneity in Azerbaijani.

1. Formation:
It is formed by adding the aorist suffix to the verb stem, followed by the particle -kən.

  • If the stem ends in a consonant: Stem + ar/ər + kən (e.g., bax + ar + kən)
  • If the stem ends in a vowel: Stem + y + ar/ər + kən (e.g., oxu + y + ar + kən)

2. Negative Form:
To express 'while not doing', the negative aorist suffix is used instead of the positive one. The structure is Stem + maz/məz + kən (e.g., gəlməzkən, baxmazkən).

3. Vowel Harmony Exception:
While the first part (-ar/-ər or -maz/-məz) follows vowel harmony, the final part -kən is an enclitic and never changes. You will never see '-kan'.

4. Usage with Nouns/Adjectives:
This suffix can also attach to nouns or adjectives using the form ikən (or just -kən) to mean 'while being...'.

  • If the nominal ends in a vowel, a -y- buffer is required: tələbə + y + ikən (while being a student).
  • If it ends in a consonant: uşaq + kən (while being a child).

5. Subject Consistency:
Usually, the subject of the -arkən clause and the main clause are the same. However, they can differ if the context makes the meaning clear (e.g., 'While I was sleeping, the phone rang').

6. Nuance:
Unlike -anda/-əndə (when), which often marks a specific point in time or a completed trigger, -arkən emphasizes that the action is ongoing when something else happens.

Examples (6)

  1. Dərs oxuyarkən musiqi dinləmə.

    Do not listen to music while studying.

    Word by Word: Lesson while-studying music do-not-listen.

    Here, 'studying' is the background action, and 'listening' is the action that should not happen at the same time.

  2. Yolu keçərkən ehtiyatlı ol.

    Be careful while crossing the road.

    Word by Word: Road-acc while-crossing careful be.

    The advice to be careful applies specifically during the process of crossing.

  3. Dəmiri isti ikən döyərlər.

    Strike while the iron is hot.

    Word by Word: Iron-acc hot while-being they-strike.

    A famous proverb using the non-verbal form 'ikən' attached to an adjective.

  4. Evdən çıxarkən qapını bağla.

    Lock the door as you leave the house.

    Word by Word: House-from while-leaving door-acc lock.

    The action of locking happens during the process of leaving.

  5. Tələbəyikən çox kitab oxuyurdum.

    While I was a student, I used to read many books.

    Word by Word: Student-while-being many book I-was-reading.

    This shows the nominal usage with a buffer 'y' for a vowel-ending noun.

  6. Bilməzkən danışmaq düzgün deyil.

    It is not right to speak while not knowing.

    Word by Word: While-not-knowing to-speak right is-not.

    This demonstrates the negative form of the converb using the negative aorist suffix -maz/-məz before -kən.

Common Mistakes

  • Harmonizing the '-kən' suffix to '-kan'.

    Kitab oxuyarkan yoruldum.
    Kitab oxuyarkən yoruldum.

    The particle '-kən' is invariant. Even if the preceding vowel is a back vowel (like 'a'), the suffix remains '-kən'.

  • Choosing '-arkən' where the moment of arrival is meant.

    Different MeaningBakıya çatarkən mənə zəng et.
    Bakıya çatanda mənə zəng et.

    This is a good sentence, but -arkən means 'while arriving', the time during the arrival. For the moment you arrive, use -anda, as in the right sentence.

How It Connects

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-arkən/-ərkənLevel 4Simultaneous Time Clause

Learn This First

To understand the simultaneous time clause (-arkən/-ərkən), learners must first be familiar with basic vowel harmony to correctly attach the suffix. Additionally, since this suffix is derived from the aorist (-ar/-ər) base, understanding how the aorist stem is formed is essential for recognizing and producing this pattern.

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Words in This Pattern

-kən