tomonidan

By (In Passives)

Level 4

Tomonidan means by in a passive sentence: Kitob Abdulla Qodiriy tomonidan yozilgan (The book was written by Abdulla Qodiriy).

How It Works

Tomonidan is tomon (side) with -i and -dan, literally from the side of. With a passive verb, it names who did the action:

  • Xat direktor tomonidan imzolandi. (The letter was signed by the director.)
  • Qaror hukumat tomonidan qabul qilindi. (The decision was adopted by the government.)

Pronouns. With a pronoun, tomon takes a possessive ending that matches it: mening tomonimdan (by me), sizning tomoningizdan (by you), uning tomonidan (by him or her).

A quick test. Uzbek school grammar tests for the passive by asking kim tomonidan? (by whom?). If the question fits, the verb is passive.

Everyday speech prefers the active. Passive sentences with tomonidan are typical of news, textbooks and official writing. In conversation, people usually say Bu kitobni Abdulla Qodiriy yozgan (Abdulla Qodiriy wrote this book).

On someone's side of the family. Tomonidan also keeps its literal meaning: ona tomonidan buvim (my grandmother on my mother's side).

It often describes a noun together with a passive participle: onam tomonidan pishirilgan non (bread baked by my mother).

Examples (6)

  1. Kitob Abdulla Qodiriy tomonidan yozilgan.

    The book was written by Abdulla Qodiriy.

    Word by Word: Book Abdulla Qodiriy side-his-from was-written.

  2. Qaror hukumat tomonidan qabul qilindi.

    The decision was adopted by the government.

    Word by Word: Decision government side-its-from acceptance was-done.

  3. Xat direktor tomonidan imzolandi.

    The letter was signed by the director.

    Word by Word: Letter director side-his-from was-signed.

  4. Bu rasm mening singlim tomonidan chizilgan.

    This picture was drawn by my younger sister.

    Word by Word: This picture my younger-sister-my side-her-from was-drawn.

  5. Oʻyin sport qoʻmitasi tomonidan tashkil etildi.

    The game was organized by the sports committee.

    Word by Word: Game sport committee-its side-its-from organization was-done.

  6. Ona tomonidan buvim Samarqandda yashaydi.

    My grandmother on my mother's side lives in Samarkand.

    Word by Word: Mother side-her-from grandmother-my Samarkand-in lives.

    Here tomonidan keeps its literal meaning, from the side of.

Common Mistakes

  • Using -dan alone for the doer.

    Kitob Abdulla Qodiriydan yozilgan.
    Kitob Abdulla Qodiriy tomonidan yozilgan.

    The -dan case alone means from, not by. In a passive sentence, the doer needs tomonidan.

  • Using tomonidan with an active verb.

    Singlim tomonidan rasmni chizdi.
    Rasm singlim tomonidan chizildi.

    Tomonidan only works with a passive verb such as chizildi. With an active verb, the doer is the subject: Singlim rasmni chizdi.

How It Connects

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

tomonidanLevel 4By (In Passives)

Learn This First

Builds on The Passive Voice and The Possessor Ending -ning.

Words in This Pattern

tomonidan