-ganini
That Something Happened: -ganini
Verb + -gan + possessive + -ni = that / what someone did: U kelganini bilaman (I know that he came), Nima deganingizni tushunmadim (I did not understand what you said).
How It Works
Use this pattern to report a fact about something that happened or has happened, as the object of another verb.
1. Building the form
Take the -gan participle, add the possessive ending for the doer, then -ni:
- kelganimni (that I came)
- kelganingni (that you came)
- kelganini (that he or she came)
- kelganimizni (that we came)
- kelganingizni (that you came, polite)
- kelganlarini (that they came)
This is the pattern of participles used as nouns together with a possessive followed by a case ending.
2. The doer
The possessive ending already shows who did it. You may also name the doer, usually with the possessor ending -ning: Uning imtihondan oʻtganini eshitdingmi? (Did you hear that she passed the exam?). In speech, the plain form is common too: U kelganini bilaman.
3. That and what
With a question word inside, the clause means what, where or who: Nima deganingizni tushunmadim (I did not understand what you said), Kalitni qayerga qoʻyganimni unutibman (I have forgotten where I put the key).
4. Negative and other times
The negative is -maganini: kelmaganini (that he did not come). For something going on, use -(a)yotganini; for something expected, use -ishini. The longer -ganligini means the same and sounds more formal.
Examples (6)
- U kelganini bilaman.
I know that he came.
Word by Word: He his-having-come-(obj.) I-know.
- Nima deganingizni tushunmadim.
I did not understand what you said.
Word by Word: What your-having-said-(obj.) I-didn't-understand.
The ending -ingiz shows that you are the one who said it.
- Kalitni qayerga qoʻyganimni unutibman.
I have forgotten where I put the key.
Word by Word: Key-(obj.) where my-having-put-(obj.) I-have-forgotten.
- Uning imtihondan oʻtganini eshitdingmi?
Did you hear that she passed the exam?
Word by Word: Her exam-from her-having-passed-(obj.) did-you-hear?
- Bolalar ovqat yemaganini keyin bildim.
I found out later that the children had not eaten.
Word by Word: Children food their-not-having-eaten-(obj.) later I-learned.
The negative -ma- comes before -gan.
- Ular Toshkentga koʻchib ketganlarini aytishdi.
They said that they had moved to Tashkent.
Word by Word: They Tashkent-to their-having-moved-(obj.) they-said.
Common Mistakes
Leaving off -ni.
U kelgani bilaman.U kelganini bilaman.The clause is the definite object of bilaman, so it needs -ni after the possessive ending: kelgani + -ni = kelganini.
Choosing a possessive ending for the wrong person.
Kechirasiz, nima deganini tushunmadim.Kechirasiz, nima deganingizni tushunmadim.The speaker is asking the listener to repeat. deganini means what he or she said. For what you said, use the ending -ingiz: deganingizni.
Using -ishini for something that already happened.
Uning kecha kelishini bilaman.Uning kecha kelganini bilaman.The speaker means that he came yesterday. -ishini names an action that is expected, wanted or habitual, so a single finished event needs -ganini.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Builds on Participles as Nouns.
Related Patterns
- -gan (sifatdosh)The Past Participle -gan
The participle at the heart of -ganini.
Level 3 - -niThe Definite Object Ending -ni
The object ending that makes the clause the object of the main verb.
Level 1 - -ishiniFor Someone to Do: -ishini
The matching pattern for an action that is expected or wanted.
Level 4 - -ganligiThe Fact That: -ganligi
A longer, more formal form with the same meaning: kelganligini.
Level 5 - ekanini / ekanliginiWhere or What Something Is
Does the same job for noun and adjective predicates: uyda ekanini.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice -ganini in Bubblegum
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