-maksızın

Without (Formal)

Level 6

The suffix -maksızın / -meksizin is a formal way to say 'without doing [verb]'. It describes an action performed while another action is absent, often emphasizing that the absence is continuous or uninterrupted.

How It Works

The pattern -maksızın / -meksizin is an advanced negative converb used primarily in formal, legal, and literary Turkish.

1. Formation:
It is formed by adding the suffix to the verb stem:

  • -maksızın: Used with back vowels (a, ı, o, u). Example: bak-maksızın (without looking).
  • -meksizin: Used with front vowels (e, i, ö, ü). Example: bil-meksizin (without knowing).

2. Nuance and Register:
While it translates to 'without', it carries a specific nuance of continuity. It is often used with verbs like durmak (to stop) or ara vermek (to take a break) to mean 'incessantly' or 'non-stop'. Unlike the everyday -madan, this suffix sounds stiff in casual conversation and is reserved for writing or formal speeches.

3. Key Distinction:
A critical difference from -madan is that -maksızın can only mean 'without'. It never carries the temporal meaning of 'before'.

Examples (4)

  1. Hiç durmaksızın on saat boyunca yürüdüler.

    They walked for ten hours without stopping at all.

    Word by Word: At-all without-stopping ten hour during they-walked.

    Here, 'durmaksızın' emphasizes the continuous nature of the walking.

  2. Genç adam, kimseye haber vermeksizin şehri terk etti.

    The young man left the city without informing anyone.

    Word by Word: Young man, to-anyone news without-giving city-acc leave he-did.

    This is a formal way to describe an action done without a specific prior step.

  3. Teklifimizi hiç tereddüt etmeksizin kabul etti.

    He accepted our offer without any hesitation.

    Word by Word: Our-offer at-all hesitation without-doing accept he-did.

    The suffix highlights the immediate and absolute nature of the acceptance.

  4. Yağmur ara vermeksizin yağıyordu.

    The rain was falling without a break.

    Word by Word: Rain break without-giving was-falling.

    Commonly used in literature to describe persistent natural events.

Common Mistakes

  • Using -maksızın to mean 'before'.

    Okula gitmeksizin kahvaltı yaptım.
    Okula gitmeden önce kahvaltı yaptım.

    While -madan can mean 'before', -maksızın only means 'without'. You cannot use it for chronological sequences.

  • Using the pattern in casual daily speech.

    Yemek yemeksizin geldim.
    Yemek yemeden geldim.

    Using -meksizin with friends sounds overly dramatic or like a historical novel. Stick to -madan in daily life.

How It Connects

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

-maksızınLevel 6Without (Formal)

Learn This First

The pattern -maksızın is a formal adverbial suffix used to mean 'without doing'. It is structurally composed of the infinitive suffix (-mak/-mek) followed by a variant of the privative suffix (-sız/-siz) and an adverbial ending. Understanding the basic infinitive and the concept of 'without' (-siz) is essential to grasping this more advanced, formal construction.