-sa
If: -sa
Verb stem + -sa + a short person ending = if: kelsam (if I come), kelsangiz (if you come), kelsa (if he or she comes).
How It Works
This is the conditional mood, called shart mayli in Uzbek grammar. The condition clause ends in -sa, a comma usually follows, and then comes the result.
1. Building the form
Stem + -sa + person ending:
- kelsam (if I come)
- kelsang (if you come, familiar)
- kelsa (if he or she comes)
- kelsak (if we come)
- kelsangiz (if you come, polite or plural)
- kelsa or kelsalar (if they come)
The ending is always -sa, after a vowel or a consonant: oʻqisa, yozsa. The person endings are the short set used with -di, not -man, -san.
2. Negative
Put -ma- before -sa: kelmasa (if he doesn’t come). See -masa.
3. Noun sentences
A noun or adjective cannot take -sa directly, so use boʻlmoq: Vaqtim boʻlsa (if I have time), Havo yaxshi boʻlsa (if the weather is good), Savolingiz boʻlsa (if you have a question).
4. The main clause
The result is usually in the present-future tense or a command: Savolingiz boʻlsa, soʻrang (If you have a question, ask).
5. If or when
For an event that is expected to happen, -sa can mean when: Bahor kelsa, gullar ochiladi (When spring comes, the flowers open). Adding agar at the start stresses that the condition is uncertain.
6. Other patterns built on -sa
-sa boʻladi (may), -sa ham (even if), -sa edi (if only).
Examples (6)
- Vaqtim boʻlsa, boraman.
If I have time, I’ll go.
Word by Word: Time-my if-it-is, I-will-go.
A noun sentence (vaqtim bor) takes boʻlsa.
- Kelsangiz, xursand boʻlaman.
If you come, I’ll be glad.
Word by Word: If-you-come, glad I-will-be.
- Savolingiz boʻlsa, soʻrang.
If you have a question, ask.
Word by Word: Question-your if-it-is, ask.
- Ertaga havo yaxshi boʻlsa, togʻga chiqamiz.
If the weather is good tomorrow, we will go up into the mountains.
Word by Word: Tomorrow weather good if-it-is, mountain-to we-will-go-up.
- Tez yursak, poyezdga ulguramiz.
If we walk fast, we’ll catch the train.
Word by Word: Fast if-we-walk, train-to we-will-make-it.
- U kelmasa, biz boshlaymiz.
If he doesn’t come, we will start.
Word by Word: He if-not-comes, we we-will-start.
Negative: kel- + -ma- + -sa.
Common Mistakes
Using the long present-tense person endings after -sa.
Men kelsaman, senga aytaman.Men kelsam, senga aytaman.The conditional takes the short endings -m, -ng, -k and -ngiz, like the simple past: kelsam, kelsak, kelsangiz.
Using a finite tense in the if-clause, as in English.
Agar ertaga kelasiz, birga boramiz.Agar ertaga kelsangiz, birga boramiz.The condition itself is always marked with -sa on the verb, even when it refers to the future.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Builds on Simple Past -di.
Related Patterns
- agarIf: Agar
The optional word if that can open a -sa clause.
Level 3 - -masaUnless, If Not
The negative conditional: unless, if not.
Level 4 - -sa boʻladiMay, Can: -sa Boʻladi
Uses the -sa form with boʻladi to ask for or give permission.
Level 3 - -sa hamEven if
Adds ham to -sa to mean even if.
Level 4 - -sa ediIf Only: -sa Edi
Adds edi to -sa for a wish: if only.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice -sa in Bubblegum
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