olub-olmadığını

Whether Complement with Paired Polarity

Level 4

The olub-olmadığını pattern (and its variants like gəlib-gəlmədiyini) is used to embed a 'yes/no' question inside a larger sentence. It translates to 'whether or not' in English.

How It Works

In Azerbaijani, when you want to report a question or express doubt about a binary choice (e.g., 'I don't know if he is coming'), you use this paired polarity construction.

1. Structure:
The pattern consists of two parts based on the same verb stem:

2. Subject Marking:
The subject of the 'whether' clause must be in the Genitive case when it is different from the subject of the main verb. E.g., Onun gəlib-gəlmədiyini bilmirəm. (I don't know whether he came or not).

3. Consonant Mutation:
Note that the final 'q' in the suffix -dıq⁴ changes to 'ğ' when followed by a possessive suffix starting with a vowel (e.g., olmadıq + -ı → olmadığı).

4. Usage and Case Marking:
The case suffix at the end of the second verb is determined by the governing verb in the main clause. It often functions as a direct object (Accusative), but can take other cases:

  • Accusative (-nı⁴): Used with bilmək (to know) or soruşmaq (to ask). E.g., Gəlib-gəlmədiyini bilmirəm.
  • Instrumental (-la/-lə): Used with maraqlanmaq (to be interested/wonder). E.g., Onun gəlib-gəlmədiyi ilə maraqlanıram.

5. Future Tense:
For future 'whether', the construction uses the future participle -acaq⁴. In the negative part, a buffer '-y-' is required after the negation suffix (e.g., gəlmə-y-əcəyini).

Examples (4)

  1. Müəllim şagirdin dərsi başa düşüb-düşmədiyini soruşdu.

    The teacher asked whether or not the student understood the lesson.

    Word by Word: Teacher student's lesson head to fall-not falling asked.

    Here, 'başa düşüb-düşmədiyini' acts as the object of the verb 'soruşdu' (asked).

  2. Sənədlərin hazır olub-olmadığını yoxlamalıyam.

    I must check whether or not the documents are ready.

    Word by Word: Documents' ready being-not being I must check.

    The auxiliary verb 'olmaq' is used here to create the 'whether or not' state for the adjective 'hazır' (ready).

  3. Onun gəlib-gəlmədiyini heç kim bilmir.

    No one knows whether he has come or not.

    Word by Word: His coming-not coming no one knows.

    This shows the pattern used with a verb of (lack of) knowledge.

  4. Qatarın vaxtında çatıb-çatmadığını öyrənə bilərsən?

    Can you find out whether the train arrived on time?

    Word by Word: Train's in time reaching-not reaching can you learn?

    The pattern is used here to inquire about a specific event's completion.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the possessive suffix on the second verb.

    Gəlib-gəlmədini soruşdum.
    Gəlib-gəlmədiyini soruşdum.

    The second part is a nominalized verb and must include a possessive suffix (here '-i-' for 3rd person) to indicate the subject of that action.

  • Reversing the order of positive and negative.

    Gəlməyib-gəldiyini soruşdum.
    Gəlib-gəlmədiyini soruşdum.

    In this specific 'whether' construction, the positive form (with -ib) must always precede the negative form.

How It Connects

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

olub-olmadığınıLevel 4Whether Complement with Paired Polarity

Learn This First

To understand the 'olub-olmadığını' pattern, learners must first be familiar with how Azerbaijani forms complement clauses using the -dığını suffix for both positive and negative verbs. Additionally, they need to understand the use of the -ıb converb, which functions here as a linker between the positive and negative poles of the verb to express the concept of 'whether or not'.

Words in This Pattern

olmaq