-moq

The Dictionary Form -moq

Level 1

bormoq means to go. Remove -moq and you have the stem bor-, which takes the endings: boraman (I go).

How It Works

Finding the stem
Cut off -moq, and what is left is the stem:
• bormoq → bor- (go)
• kelmoq → kel- (come)
• ichmoq → ich- (drink)
• oʻqimoq → oʻqi- (read)
• ishlamoq → ishla- (work)

Consonant or vowel at the end?
Look at the last letter of the stem, because it decides the shape of many endings. bor- ends in a consonant, so it takes -a: bor- + -a + -man → boraman. oʻqi- ends in a vowel, so it takes -y: oʻqi- + -y + -man → oʻqiyman.

Always -moq
Standard Uzbek has no vowel harmony, so the ending is always -moq, whatever vowels the verb has: kelmoq, koʻrmoq, ichmoq. The Turkish endings -mak and -mek do not carry over.

Where you meet -moq
You will see it in dictionaries, vocabulary lists and titles, and later inside forms such as -moqchi (intending to) and the formal -moqda. In everyday speech, the verb noun -(i)sh does most of the work that English to do or doing does.

Examples (5)

  1. Men maktabga boraman.

    I go to school.

    Word by Word: I school-to go-I

    bormoq (to go) → bor- + -a + -man → boraman.

  2. Siz qachon kelasiz?

    When will you come?

    Word by Word: you when come-you

    kelmoq (to come) → kel- + -a + -siz → kelasiz.

  3. Men kitob oʻqiyman.

    I read books.

    Word by Word: I book read-I

    oʻqimoq (to read) → oʻqi-. The stem ends in a vowel, so -y comes before -man.

  4. Biz bu yerda ishlaymiz.

    We work here.

    Word by Word: we this place-at work-we

    ishlamoq (to work) → ishla- + -y + -miz → ishlaymiz.

  5. U choy ichadi.

    She drinks tea.

    Word by Word: she tea drinks

    ichmoq (to drink) → ich- + -a + -di → ichadi.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding a person ending to the whole -moq form.

    Men bormoqman.
    Men boraman.

    Endings go on the stem, so -moq comes off first: bor- + -a + -man → boraman.

  • Using a Turkish-style infinitive ending.

    kelmek
    kelmoq

    Uzbek has one shape, -moq, for every verb. The ending never changes to match the vowels of the stem.

How It Connects

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-moqLevel 1The Dictionary Form -moq

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