-(i)sh (harakat nomi)
The Verb Noun -(i)sh
-(i)sh turns a verb into a noun, much like English "-ing": suz- → suzish (swimming), oʻqi- → oʻqish (reading, studying).
How It Works
Forming it
- After a consonant, add -ish: kel- → kelish, yoz- → yozish, suz- → suzish
- After a vowel, add -sh: oʻqi- → oʻqish, ishla- → ishlash, hayda- → haydash
- Two short verbs add a y: de- → deyish (saying), ye- → yeyish (eating)
Start from the stem, which is the dictionary form without -moq (The Dictionary Form -moq).
It works like a noun
The verb noun keeps its own object in front of it (kitob oʻqish, reading books) and then takes noun endings:
- As a subject: Oʻzbek tilini oʻrganish oson emas (Learning Uzbek is not easy).
- With -ni: Suzishni bilaman (I know how to swim). See Knowing How To.
- With a possessive: Ketishim kerak (I have to leave). See Have To.
- With uchun: oʻrganish uchun (in order to learn). See In Order To: -ish uchun.
The negative
The verb noun never takes -ma- plus -ish. Its negative is Not Doing: -maslik: kechikmaslik (not being late).
Words that became ordinary nouns
Some -ish forms are now everyday words: kirish (entrance), chiqish (exit), oʻqish (studies at college).
A different -ish
An -ish that is followed by verb endings, as in yozishdi (they wrote) or yozishmoq (to write to each other), is a different suffix. See Doing Something Together: -(i)sh.
Examples (6)
- Kitob oʻqish foydali.
Reading books is useful.
Word by Word: Book reading useful.
oʻqi- ends in a vowel, so it takes -sh.
- Suzish sogʻliq uchun foydali.
Swimming is good for your health.
Word by Word: Swimming health for useful.
suz- ends in a consonant, so it takes -ish.
- Oʻzbek tilini oʻrganish oson emas.
Learning Uzbek is not easy.
Word by Word: Uzbek language-its-object learning easy not.
The verb noun keeps its own object: oʻzbek tilini.
- Bu yerda ishlash qiziq.
It is interesting to work here.
Word by Word: This place-at working interesting.
- Kirish qayerda?
Where is the entrance?
Word by Word: Entrance where?
Kirish (entering) is also the ordinary word for entrance.
- Ukam oʻqishga kirdi.
My younger brother got into university.
Word by Word: Younger-brother-my study-to entered.
Oʻqish also means studies, and oʻqishga kirmoq means to be admitted.
Common Mistakes
Adding -ish after a vowel.
Men oʻqiishni yaxshi koʻraman.Men oʻqishni yaxshi koʻraman.After a vowel the ending is only -sh: oʻqi- → oʻqish.
Making the negative with -ma- plus -ish.
Darsga kechikmaish kerak.Darsga kechikmaslik kerak.The negative verb noun is -maslik: kechikmaslik (not being late).
How It Connects
Learn This First
Builds on The Dictionary Form -moq.
Related Patterns
- -maslikNot Doing: -maslik
-maslik is the negative of the verb noun: kelmaslik.
Level 3 - -(i)sh kerakHave to
With a possessive ending and kerak it means have to.
Level 2 - -ishni bilmoqKnowing How to
With -ni and bilmoq it means know how to.
Level 2 - -ish uchunIn Order to: -ish Uchun
With uchun it states a purpose: in order to.
Level 3 - -(i)sh (birgalik nisbati)Doing Something Together: -(i)sh
A different -ish, followed by verb endings, means doing something together.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- xohlamoqTo WantLevel 2
- yaxshi koʻrmoqLiking and LovingLevel 2
- -ishdan oldinBefore DoingLevel 3
- -ishi mumkinMight: -ishi MumkinLevel 3
- -ishga majburForced toLevel 4
- -ishi bilanAs Soon asLevel 4
- -ishiniFor Someone to Do: -ishiniLevel 4
- oʻrnigaInstead ofLevel 4
And 4 more in the full list.