-n (məchul növ)

Vowel-stem Passive

Level 4

In Azerbaijani, the passive voice indicates that the subject is receiving the action. While the standard suffix is -il, verbs ending in a vowel or the consonant -l use the -n suffix instead.

How It Works

The passive voice (məchul növ) shifts the focus from the doer to the action's recipient. The -n variant is used in two specific cases:

1. Vowel Stems: When a verb ends in a vowel, a simple -n is added before the infinitive or tense markers.
Example: təmizlə- (to clean) → təmizlənmək (to be cleaned).

2. L-final Stems: When a verb ends in -l, the suffix -ın/-in/-un/-ün is used to avoid the awkward 'll' sound that the standard -il passive would create.
Example: al- (to take/buy) → alınmaq (to be taken/bought).

Stems ending in -n: If a verb stem already ends in -n (like inanmaq - to believe), it does not use the -n suffix. Instead, it uses the standard -ıl/-il/-ul/-ül suffix to ensure the passive meaning is clear (e.g., inanılmaq).

Important Exceptions: The verbs demək (to say), yemək (to eat), and yumaq (to wash) are exceptions. Even though they end in vowels, they use a 'y' glide and the standard suffix: deyilmək, yeyilmək, and yuyulmaq. Note that yunmaq exists but it is a reflexive verb meaning 'to wash oneself', not a passive form.

Examples (4)

  1. Bu otaq hər gün təmizlənir.

    This room is cleaned every day.

    Word by Word: This room every day is-being-cleaned.

    The verb 'təmizləmək' ends in a vowel, so '-n' is added to make it passive.

  2. Məktub artıq oxundu.

    The letter has already been read.

    Word by Word: Letter already was-read.

    The verb 'oxumaq' (to read) ends in a vowel, taking the '-n' suffix in the past tense.

  3. Qərar dünən alındı.

    The decision was taken yesterday.

    Word by Word: Decision yesterday was-taken.

    The verb 'almaq' ends in 'l', so it uses '-ın' instead of '-ıl' to avoid 'allanmaq'.

  4. Bütün sirlər bilindi.

    All secrets became known.

    Word by Word: All secrets were-known.

    The verb 'bilmək' ends in 'l', so it takes the '-in' passive suffix.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the standard -il suffix on a vowel stem.

    Kitab oxulur.
    Kitab oxunur.

    You cannot add -il to a vowel. You must use -n for verbs like 'oxumaq'.

  • Applying the -n rule to the irregular verb 'demək'.

    Bu söz belə denir.
    Bu söz belə deyilir.

    'Demək' and 'yemək' are exceptions; they use 'deyilmək' and 'yeyilmək' instead of the -n form.

  • Using -n for the passive of 'yumaq' (to wash).

    Paltarlar yunur.
    Paltarlar yuyulur.

    While 'yumaq' ends in a vowel, its passive form is 'yuyulmaq'. The reflexive form is 'yuyunmaq' (to wash oneself), so 'yunmaq' is not the form for either meaning.

How It Connects

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-n (məchul növ)Level 4Vowel-stem Passive

Learn This First

To understand the -n passive, learners need to recognize verb stems ending in vowels and apply vowel harmony. Since the passive suffix creates a new verb stem, knowing how to conjugate that stem in basic tenses like the witnessed past is necessary for forming complete sentences.

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-n