-(i)b kelmoq

Has Been Doing: -(i)b Kelmoq

Level 5

With a verb in -(i)b, kelmoq (to come) says the action has come from the past to the present: Oʻn yildan beri shu yerda ishlab kelyapman (I have been working here for ten years).

How It Works

This is one of the helper verbs that follow a verb in -(i)b.

1. Building the form
Take the verb stem (the dictionary form without -moq) and add -ib after a consonant or -b after a vowel. Then add the helper verb, which carries the tense and the person:

  • yasha- → yashab kelmoqda (has been living)
  • ishla- → ishlab kelyapman (I have been working)
  • saqlan- → saqlanib kelgan (has been kept)

2. From then until now
The action began earlier and is still going on, or went on for a long stretch up to now. Say how long with -dan beri: yuz yildan beri (for a hundred years).

3. Which forms

  • -(i)b kelmoqda: formal, common in news and writing (yashab kelmoqda). See -moqda.
  • -(i)b kelyapti: the everyday spoken version (ishlab kelyapman).
  • -(i)b kelgan: it has been so all along (saqlanib kelgan).
  • -(i)b kelayotgan: before a noun (asrlar davomida saqlanib kelayotgan anʼanalar, traditions kept for centuries).

4. Coming back
With verbs of going and carrying, kelmoq still means to come: olib kelmoq (to bring), borib kelmoq (to go and come back). Context makes the meaning clear.

5. kelmoq or bormoq?
-(i)b kelmoq looks back from now: it has been going on until today. -(i)b bormoq looks forward: it keeps growing, step by step. -(i)b ketmoq uses ketmoq (to leave), the opposite of kelmoq, and means away or suddenly.

Examples (6)

  1. Bu oila yuz yildan beri shu mahallada yashab kelmoqda.

    This family has been living in this neighbourhood for a hundred years.

    Word by Word: This family hundred year-from since this neighbourhood-in living is-coming.

  2. Oʻn yildan beri shu yerda ishlab kelyapman.

    I have been working here for ten years.

    Word by Word: Ten year-from since this place-at working coming-am-I.

  3. Bu anʼana asrlar davomida saqlanib kelgan.

    This tradition has been kept for centuries.

    Word by Word: This tradition centuries during being-kept has-come.

  4. Bu kitob avloddan avlodga oʻtib kelmoqda.

    This book has been passed down from generation to generation.

    Word by Word: This book generation-from generation-to passing is-coming.

  5. Men bu kunni koʻp yillar orzu qilib keldim.

    I have dreamed of this day for many years.

    Word by Word: I this day-(object) many years dream doing came-I.

  6. Doʻkonga borib keldim.

    I went to the shop and came back.

    Word by Word: Shop-to going came-I.

    With a verb of going, kelmoq keeps its own meaning: to come back.

Common Mistakes

  • Using -(i)b kelmoq for a single finished action (meant: I read this book yesterday).

    Kecha bu kitobni oʻqib keldim.
    Kecha bu kitobni oʻqidim.

    This form needs a stretch of time up to now. For one finished action, use the plain past. Oʻqib keldim sounds like you read it somewhere and then came back.

How It Connects

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

-(i)b kelmoqLevel 5Has Been Doing: -(i)b Kelmoq

Learn This First

Builds on Helper Verbs After -(i)b and -a and Since, For.

Words in This Pattern

kelmoq