Noun + qilmoq
Compound Verbs with Qilmoq
Many Uzbek verbs are built from a noun + qilmoq (to do): telefon qilmoq (to phone), sayohat qilmoq (to travel), xarid qilmoq (to shop).
How It Works
English often turns a noun straight into a verb: to phone, to shop. Uzbek usually keeps the noun and adds qilmoq, which means to do or to make. Together they form one verb.
- telefon qilmoq: to phone
- sayohat qilmoq: to travel
- xarid qilmoq: to shop
- taklif qilmoq: to invite, to offer
- harakat qilmoq: to try
- nonushta qilmoq, tushlik qilmoq: to have breakfast, to have lunch
Endings go on qil- only. Treat qilmoq like any other verb: qilaman (I do / will do), qildim (I did), qilyapman (I am doing), qiling (please do). The noun in front stays exactly as it is.
Not. Put -ma- inside qil-: telefon qilmadim (I didn't phone).
The noun takes no case ending. The noun part is not an object, so it never gets -ni. The real person or thing gets whatever ending the compound needs, as explained in feʼl boshqaruvi:
- telefon qilmoq takes -ga: Onamga telefon qildim (I phoned my mother).
- taklif qilmoq takes -ni for the guest: Sizni toʻyga taklif qilaman (I invite you to the wedding).
- sayohat qilmoq takes -ga for where you go: Samarqandga sayohat qildik (We traveled to Samarkand).
Writing. The two parts are written as separate words.
More formal writing often uses etmoq in the same way, and boʻlmoq makes the matching become verbs.
Examples (5)
- Onamga telefon qildim.
I phoned my mother.
Word by Word: Mother-my-to phone did-I.
The person you phone takes -ga.
- Yozda Samarqandga sayohat qildik.
We traveled to Samarkand in the summer.
Word by Word: Summer-in Samarkand-to travel did-we.
- Bozorda xarid qilyapmiz.
We're shopping at the bazaar.
Word by Word: Bazaar-at shopping doing-we.
The -yap ending goes on qil-, not on xarid.
- Sizni toʻyga taklif qilaman.
I invite you to the wedding.
Word by Word: You-(object) wedding-to invitation do-I.
Here the guest takes -ni.
- Nonushta qildingizmi?
Have you had breakfast?
Word by Word: Breakfast did-you-?
-mi goes after the whole verb.
Common Mistakes
Putting -ni on the noun part.
Telefonni qildim.Telefon qildim.Telefon here is part of the verb, not an object. Leave it bare: telefon qildim means I phoned.
Using -ni for the person you phone.
Men onamni telefon qildim.Men onamga telefon qildim.Telefon qilmoq takes -ga for the person: onamga telefon qildim.
Using emas to say didn't.
Men sayohat emas qildim.Men sayohat qilmadim.Emas cannot negate a past verb like qildim. Put -ma- inside qil-: qilmadim.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Builds on To Be, To Become.
Related Patterns
- qilmoq / boʻlmoqMaking vs. Becoming: Qilmoq and Boʻlmoq
Pairs like xursand qilmoq (make happy) and xursand boʻlmoq (become happy).
Level 4 - Noun + etmoqFormal Compound Verbs with Etmoq
The formal partner of qilmoq in compound verbs.
Level 4 - Which Case a Verb Takes
Each compound verb chooses its own case ending, like -ga with telefon qilmoq.
Level 3 - -ma-Negative Verbs with -ma-
Negation goes inside qil-: qilmadim.
Level 1 - -laMaking Verbs with -la
Another way to turn a noun into a verb, with a suffix instead of a helper verb.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Noun + qilmoq in Bubblegum
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