-ajak

The Literary Future -ajak

Level 6

-ajak is an old future ending. Today you meet it in two common words: kelajak (the future), from kel- (come), and boʻlajak (future, to-be), from boʻl- (be, become).

How It Works

1. kelajak: the future
Kelajak is an ordinary noun. It takes case and possessive endings, and before a vowel its final k becomes g, as in k and q softening:

  • kelajakda (in the future)
  • kelajak haqida (about the future)
  • kelajagim (my future), kelajagimiz (our future)
  • kelajak avlod (the future generation)

2. boʻlajak: to-be
Boʻlajak stands before a noun: boʻlajak shifokor (a future doctor), boʻlajak oʻqituvchilar (future teachers, student teachers), boʻlajak kelin (a bride-to-be), boʻlajak kuyov (a groom-to-be).

3. An old ending
-ajak was once a working future form, and a study of Uzbek verb styles still lists it as literary. You may meet it on other verbs in older poetry, but it is not how everyday Uzbek forms the future. For that, use the present-future (kelaman, I will come) or -(a)digan.

4. Next week, next year
Kelajak is the future in general. For next, Uzbek uses two other forms of kel-: kelasi and kelgusi: kelasi hafta (next week), kelgusi yil (next year).

Examples (6)

  1. Kelajakda kim boʻlmoqchisan?

    What do you want to be in the future?

    Word by Word: Future-in who intend-to-be-you?

  2. Bolalar bizning kelajagimiz.

    Children are our future.

    Word by Word: Children our future-our.

    kelajak + -imiz → kelajagimiz: the final k becomes g before the vowel.

  3. U boʻlajak shifokor, tibbiyot institutida oʻqiydi.

    He is a future doctor; he studies at the medical institute.

    Word by Word: He to-be doctor, medicine institute-its-at studies.

  4. Boʻlajak kuyov qizning ota-onasi bilan tanishdi.

    The groom-to-be met the girl's parents.

    Word by Word: To-be groom girl-of parents-her with got-acquainted.

  5. Kelajak avlod uchun tabiatni asrashimiz kerak.

    We must protect nature for future generations.

    Word by Word: Future generation for nature-(object) protecting-our necessary.

  6. Men kelajagim haqida koʻp oʻylayman.

    I think about my future a lot.

    Word by Word: I future-my about much think-I.

Common Mistakes

  • Using kelajak for next (meant: We will go to Samarkand next year).

    Kelajak yili Samarqandga boramiz.
    Kelasi yili Samarqandga boramiz.

    Kelajak means the future in general. For next week or next year, use kelasi or kelgusi.

  • Keeping k before a vowel.

    Bu mening kelajakim.
    Bu mening kelajagim.

    Kelajak has more than one syllable, so its final k becomes g before a vowel ending: kelajagim, kelajagi.

How It Connects

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

-ajakLevel 6The Literary Future -ajak

Learn This First

Builds on Going To and Usually With -(a)digan.