-moqda
The Formal Present Continuous -moqda
Verb stem + -moqda means is happening now, in a formal or written style: Narxlar oshmoqda (Prices are rising).
How It Works
1. Building the form
-moqda goes straight onto the stem, whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant. No extra letter is needed:
- osh- + -moqda → oshmoqda (is rising)
- oʻqi- + -moqda → oʻqimoqda (is reading, is studying)
- tayyorlan- + -moqda → tayyorlanmoqda (is preparing)
It looks like the dictionary form -moq plus -da, "in doing", and that is where it comes from.
2. Person endings
The third person has no ending, and it is the form you will meet most: Ish davom etmoqda (The work is continuing). The other persons add the long endings: yozmoqdaman (I am writing), kutmoqdamiz (we are waiting), ishlamoqdasiz (you are working).
3. Where you meet it
- News: Narxlar oshmoqda (Prices are rising). With the passive, it becomes -ilmoqda: Yangi maktab qurilmoqda (A new school is being built).
- Formal letters and speeches: Sizga ushbu xatni yozmoqdaman (I am writing this letter to you).
- Slow changes: Havo asta-sekin isimoqda (The weather is slowly getting warmer).
When talking with friends, use -yap instead: Narxlar oshyapti.
4. Negative
The negative -mamoqda is less common, and you will meet it mostly in writing: Narxlar tushmamoqda (Prices are not falling). In speech, use -ma- with -yap: Narxlar tushmayapti.
5. In the past
-moqda edi means was happening, again mostly in writing: Yomgʻir yogʻmoqda edi (It was raining).
Examples (6)
- Narxlar oshmoqda.
Prices are rising.
Word by Word: Prices rising-are.
osh- + -moqda. A typical news headline.
- Talabalar imtihonga tayyorlanmoqda.
The students are preparing for the exam.
Word by Word: Students exam-to preparing-are.
The plain third-person form is common even with a plural subject.
- Havo asta-sekin isimoqda.
The weather is slowly getting warmer.
Word by Word: Weather slowly warming-is.
A vowel stem takes -moqda directly: isi- → isimoqda.
- Sizga ushbu xatni yozmoqdaman.
I am writing this letter to you.
Word by Word: You-to this letter-the writing-am-I.
The long ending -man says I.
- Yangi maktab qurilmoqda.
A new school is being built.
Word by Word: New school being-built-is.
Passive qur- + -il- + -moqda.
- Yomgʻir yogʻmoqda edi.
It was raining.
Word by Word: Rain raining was.
Adding edi puts the action in the past.
Common Mistakes
Adding a buffer y after a vowel stem.
U kitob oʻqiymoqda.U kitob oʻqimoqda.The buffer y belongs to the present-future (oʻqiyman). -moqda joins the stem directly: oʻqi- + -moqda.
Using the short -m ending of the -di past.
Sizga xat yozmoqdam.Sizga xat yozmoqdaman.-moqda takes the long endings -man, -san, -miz, -siz, just like -yap.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Builds on Present Continuous -yap.
Related Patterns
- -moqThe Dictionary Form -moq
The dictionary form -moq that -moqda grew from.
Level 1 - -ilmoqdaIs Being Done: -ilmoqda
The passive version, very common in news: qurilmoqda (is being built).
Level 5 - -(a)yotirLiterary Present Continuous -yotir
Another literary present continuous, found mostly in poetry and older texts.
Level 6 - -votColloquial Present Continuous -vot
The most casual spoken present continuous, the opposite end of the style scale.
Level 5 - -(a)yotgan ediWas Doing: -(a)yotgan Edi
The everyday way to say was doing, next to written -moqda edi.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice -moqda in Bubblegum
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