-sın/-sin/-sun/-sün
Third-person Imperative
The third-person imperative (əmr şəkli) uses the suffixes -sın, -sin, -sun, -sün to tell someone else what to do or to express a wish. It translates to 'let him/her/it' or 'may they'.
How It Works
The third-person imperative is a versatile mood in Azerbaijani. It is formed by adding the suffix directly to the verb stem.
1. Formation:
The suffix depends on the last vowel of the verb stem (vowel harmony):
- -sın: after 'a' or 'ı' (e.g., alsın - let him take)
- -sin: after 'e', 'ə', or 'i' (e.g., gəlsin - let him come)
- -sun: after 'o' or 'u' (e.g., oxusun - let him read)
- -sün: after 'ö' or 'ü' (e.g., görsün - let him see)
In speech, the particle qoy (let/allow) is often placed at the beginning of the sentence to emphasize the request or permission.
2. Plurality:
To talk about several people ('let them'), add the plural suffix after the imperative marker: -sınlar, -sinlər, -sunlar, -sünlər.
3. Negation:
Negation is formed by adding -ma/-mə between the verb stem and the imperative suffix (e.g., yazmasın - let him not write).
4. Interrogative Form:
To ask questions like 'Should he...?', add the yes-no question particle directly to the imperative suffix (e.g., gəlsinmi?).
5. Usage Contexts:
- Wishes/Blessings: Common in cultural phrases like Allah kömək olsun (May God help).
- Slogans: Used for exclamations like Yaşasın! (Long live!).
- Indirect Commands: Used when relaying an order through someone else. This typically uses the connector ki (e.g., Ona de ki, gəlsin - Tell him to come).
- Formal Decrees: Often used in legal contexts, frequently with the passive voice (e.g., təsdiq edilsin - let it be approved).
Examples (6)
- Qoy o, sabah bura gəlsin.
Let him come here tomorrow.
Word by Word: Let he, tomorrow here come-let.
The particle 'qoy' (let/allow) is frequently used to introduce the third-person imperative in natural speech.
- Ona de ki, bura gəlsin.
Tell him to come here.
Word by Word: To-him say that, here come-let.
Indirect commands are formed using the connector ki followed by the third-person imperative.
- Allah sənə kömək olsun!
May God help you!
Word by Word: God to-you help be-let!
This is a standard way to express a wish or blessing using the third-person imperative.
- Onlar bu kitabı oxusunlar.
Let them read this book.
Word by Word: They this book read-let-plural.
The plural suffix -lar is added to indicate that 'they' are the subject.
- O, heç vaxt gecikməsin.
Let him never be late.
Word by Word: He, never late-not-let.
The negation suffix -mə is placed before the imperative suffix -sin.
- Yaşasın Azərbaycan!
Long live Azerbaijan!
Word by Word: Live-let Azerbaijan!
The third-person imperative is used in slogans and exclamations to express strong support or celebration.
Common Mistakes
Using the plural imperative for a third person.
Different MeaningGəlin!Gəlsin.'Gəlin!' is a good sentence: 'Come!' addressed to several people or politely. The third person 'Let him come' needs the suffix -sın: 'Gəlsin.' The suffix -ın (without 's') is for 'you all'.
Adding a 'y' buffer consonant after a vowel.
OxuyusunOxusunUnlike the 1st and 2nd person imperatives, the 3rd person suffix starts with a consonant ('s'), so no buffer 'y' is needed even if the verb ends in a vowel.
Placing negation after the imperative suffix.
GəlsinməGəlməsinThe negation suffix -ma/-mə must always come immediately after the verb stem.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn the third-person imperative, you must first understand how to form the basic verb stem using the second-person singular imperative. You also need a firm grasp of four-way vowel harmony to correctly apply the -sın/-sin/-sun/-sün suffixes and the plural suffix for 'let them' forms.
- Vowel harmony in basic suffixes
The suffix -sın/-sin/-sun/-sün follows four-way vowel harmony, which is essential for choosing the correct variant based on the verb stem.
Level 1 - Second-person singular imperative
Understanding the basic imperative stem (the second-person singular form) is necessary before adding third-person specific endings.
Level 2 - -lar/-lərPlural Suffix
The plural form of the third-person imperative (e.g., -sınlar) requires knowledge of the standard plural suffix.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- -(y)ın/-(y)in/-(y)un/-(y)ünPlural or Polite Imperative
Learners often confuse the 2nd person plural suffix with the 3rd person singular suffix.
Level 2 - -ma/-mə (əmr inkarı)Negative Imperative
This suffix is required to make the third-person imperative negative.
Level 2 - -(y)aq/-(y)əkFirst-person Plural Hortative
This is the 'let's' form (1st person plural), part of the same imperative-optative mood system.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice -sın/-sin/-sun/-sün in Bubblegum
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