-moqqa

Literary to Do: -moqqa

Level 6

Verb + -moqqa = to do, in literary style: Bormoqqa qaror qildi (He decided to go). Everyday Uzbek says borishga qaror qildi.

How It Works

How it is built. Take the -moq form and add the -ga case. After q, -ga turns into -qa, as in other g- endings after k and q:

  • bormoq + -ga → bormoqqa
  • yozmoq + -ga → yozmoqqa
  • oʻqimoq + -ga → oʻqimoqqa

The everyday twin. Speech and most modern writing use the -ish form with -ga instead: bormoqqa qaror qildi = borishga qaror qildi. The meaning is the same. -moqqa sounds bookish, and you meet it in novels, poems and speeches.

Which words take it. -moqqa is possible only where the next word needs -ga, because -qa is that case. Common partners are qaror qilmoq (decide), kirishmoq (set about), urinmoq (try), shoshilmoq (hurry), qodir (able) and usta (skilled). A word that takes -ni, such as yaxshi koʻrmoq, needs -ishni instead; see which case a verb takes.

Other -moq forms in books. Literary writing also puts possessive endings on -moq, and then q becomes gʻ: harakat qilmogʻimiz lozim (we must make an effort). Do not confuse -moqqa with -moqda, a present tense, or with -moqchi, which means intending to.

Examples (6)

  1. U shaharga bormoqqa qaror qildi.

    He decided to go to the city.

    Word by Word: He city-to go-to decision made.

    In everyday speech: borishga qaror qildi.

  2. U qogʻoz olib, yozmoqqa kirishdi.

    She took some paper and set about writing.

    Word by Word: She paper taking, write-to set-about.

  3. Biz bu ishni bajarmoqqa qodirmiz.

    We are able to do this work.

    Word by Word: We this work-(object) do-to able-are-we.

  4. Yoʻlovchilar uyga qaytmoqqa shoshildi.

    The passengers hurried to get home.

    Word by Word: Passengers home-to return-to hurried.

  5. Olim bu sirni ochmoqqa urindi.

    The scientist tried to uncover this secret.

    Word by Word: Scientist this secret-(object) open-to tried.

  6. Buvim non yopmoqqa usta edi.

    My grandmother was skilled at baking bread.

    Word by Word: Grandmother-my bread bake-to skilled was.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing -moqga instead of -moqqa.

    U shaharga bormoqga qaror qildi.
    U shaharga bormoqqa qaror qildi.

    After q, the case ending -ga becomes -qa, so -moq plus -ga is always written -moqqa.

  • Using -moqqa with a verb that takes -ni (meant: I like reading books).

    Kitob oʻqimoqqa yaxshi koʻraman.
    Kitob oʻqishni yaxshi koʻraman.

    Yaxshi koʻrmoq takes -ni, so its dependent verb cannot use -moqqa. Use the -ish form with -ni.

How It Connects

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

-moqqaLevel 6Literary to Do: -moqqa

Learn This First

Builds on To or Toward: -ga and The Verb Noun -(i)sh.