-a turib

Although Knowing: -a Turib

Level 5

-a turib means while (already) doing or knowing, usually with a sense of despite: Bila turib, aytmadi (He knew, yet he didn't say).

How It Works

1. Building it
verb stem + -a (after a consonant) or -y (after a vowel) + turib:

  • bil- → bila turib (knowing)
  • koʻr- → koʻra turib (seeing)
  • eshit- → eshita turib (hearing)
  • yasha- → yashay turib (living)

Turib is written as a separate word.

2. Knowingly, yet
The typical meaning is that someone knew or saw something and still acted against it: Meni koʻra turib, salom bermadi (He saw me, yet he didn't say hello). It often sounds like a complaint.

3. While being in a situation
With other verbs it describes a lasting situation that makes the main clause surprising: Toshkentda yashay turib, hali Chorsu bozorini koʻrmaganman (I live in Tashkent, yet I still haven't seen Chorsu Bazaar).

4. The negative
-may turib means without doing: Bilmay turib, gapirmang (Don't talk about it without knowing). Compare -masdan.

5. Not the same as -(i)b turmoq
-(i)b turmoq is a helper verb meaning keep doing: kelib turing (come by now and then). In -a turib, the verb before turib is in the -a form and the phrase is a clause of its own.

For a plain although clause, see -gani bilan and -sa ham.

Examples (5)

  1. Bila turib, aytmadi.

    He knew, yet he didn't say.

    Word by Word: Knowing standing, didn't-say.

  2. Meni koʻra turib, salom bermadi.

    He saw me, yet he didn't say hello.

    Word by Word: Me-ACC seeing standing, greeting didn't-give.

  3. Xato ekanini bila turib, yana shunday qildi.

    He knew it was a mistake, yet he did it again.

    Word by Word: Mistake being-its-ACC knowing standing, again so did.

  4. Toshkentda yashay turib, hali Chorsu bozorini koʻrmaganman.

    I live in Tashkent, yet I still haven't seen Chorsu Bazaar.

    Word by Word: Tashkent-in living standing, still Chorsu bazaar-its-ACC I-haven't-seen.

  5. Bilmay turib, gapirmang.

    Don't talk about it without knowing.

    Word by Word: Not-knowing standing, don't-speak.

    The negative -may turib means without doing.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting a -gan form before turib.

    Meni koʻrgan turib, salom bermadi.
    Meni koʻra turib, salom bermadi.

    Turib follows the -a/-y form of the verb: koʻra turib, bila turib.

  • Writing the two words together.

    Bilaturib, aytmadi.
    Bila turib, aytmadi.

    Turib is written as a separate word after the -a form.

How It Connects

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

-a turibLevel 5Although Knowing: -a Turib

Learn This First

Builds on Keep Doing: -(i)b turmoq and Although: -gani bilan.

Words in This Pattern

turmoq