-ni

The Definite Object Ending -ni

Level 1

-ni works a little like "the" for objects: Choy ichaman. (I drink tea.) → Choyni iching. (Drink the tea.)

How It Works

The direct object is the person or thing that receives the action. Uzbek has no word for "the"; instead, a specific object takes -ni.

One shape everywhere
kitob → kitobni, olma → olmani, Anvar → Anvarni. It does not change after k or q either: bankni, qishloqni.

When -ni is needed

  • A particular thing both speakers know: Choyni iching. (Drink the tea.)
  • Names and people: Anvarni taniysizmi? (Do you know Anvar?)
  • Pronouns: meni (me), seni, bizni, sizni, and uni (him, her, it), buni (this). Note meni with one n.
  • After bu (this) and u (that): Bu soʻzni tushunmayman. (I don't understand this word.)
  • A noun with a possessive ending: Kitobimni oʻqiyapsizmi? (Are you reading my book?)

With or without -ni

  • Men kitob oʻqiyman. I read books, any books.
  • Men bu kitobni oʻqiyman. I'll read this book.

Good to know

  • Many verbs take another case where English has a direct object. Menga qarang (Look at me) uses -ga, see which case a verb takes.
  • In everyday speech, -ni is sometimes heard in place of -ning (Anvarni uyi). In writing, keep them apart: Anvarning uyi (Anvar's house).

Examples (6)

  1. Kitobni oʻqiyapman.

    I'm reading the book.

    Word by Word: book-OBJECT reading-I

  2. Sizni kutyapman.

    I'm waiting for you.

    Word by Word: you-OBJECT waiting-I

  3. Choyni iching.

    Drink your tea.

    Word by Word: tea-OBJECT drink(polite)

    The tea is the one in front of the listener, so it takes -ni.

  4. Anvarni taniysizmi?

    Do you know Anvar?

    Word by Word: Anvar-OBJECT know-you-QUESTION

  5. Bu soʻzni tushunmayman.

    I don't understand this word.

    Word by Word: this word-OBJECT understand-not-I

  6. Meni eshityapsizmi?

    Can you hear me?

    Word by Word: me hearing-you-QUESTION

    men + -ni is spelled meni, with one n.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving a pronoun object without -ni.

    Men siz kutyapman.
    Men sizni kutyapman.

    A pronoun object is always specific, so it takes -ni: meni, seni, uni, bizni, sizni.

  • Writing the object form of men with two n.

    Menni kutyapsizmi?
    Meni kutyapsizmi?

    The object form of men is meni, and of sen is seni. The pronouns u, bu and shu take -ni directly: uni, buni, shuni.

  • Using -ni for "some bread" when no particular bread is meant.

    Nonni olaman.
    Non olaman.

    If you mean "I'll buy some bread", leave the object without an ending. Nonni olaman means "I'll take the bread", a loaf both speakers know about.

How It Connects

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-niLevel 1The Definite Object Ending -ni

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