-ishi kerak edi
Was Supposed to
Verb + -(i)sh + possessive + kerak edi = was supposed to / should have: U kelishi kerak edi (He was supposed to come), Oldinroq aytishim kerak edi (I should have said it earlier).
How It Works
Use this pattern for a past duty, plan or expectation, and very often for a regret.
1. Building the form
Take the verb noun -(i)sh, add the possessive ending for the person, then kerak edi. kerak and edi never change:
- aytishim kerak edi (I should have said)
- aytishing kerak edi (you should have said)
- aytishi kerak edi (he or she should have said)
- aytishimiz kerak edi (we should have said)
- aytishingiz kerak edi (you should have said, polite)
- aytishlari kerak edi (they should have said)
Without a possessive ending, -(i)sh kerak + edi speaks generally: Ertaroq chiqish kerak edi (We should have left earlier).
2. Plans and timetables
It also reports what was expected: Poyezd soat beshda kelishi kerak edi, lekin kechikdi (The train was supposed to arrive at five, but it was late).
3. Should not have and did not need to
These two are different:
- -masligi kerak edi = should not have, from -maslik: Buni unga aytmasligim kerak edi (I should not have told him this).
- kerak emas edi = there was no need: Kelishingiz kerak emas edi, lekin rahmat (You did not have to come, but thank you).
4. Related forms
Without edi, -ishi kerak is about now or later: U hozir kelishi kerak (He should be here any minute). To guess about the past, use -gan boʻlishi mumkin (may have done).
Examples (6)
- U kelishi kerak edi.
He was supposed to come.
Word by Word: He his-coming needed was.
- Oldinroq aytishim kerak edi.
I should have said it earlier.
Word by Word: Earlier my-saying needed was.
The ending -im on the verb noun shows that I am the one.
- Poyezd soat beshda kelishi kerak edi, lekin kechikdi.
The train was supposed to arrive at five, but it was late.
Word by Word: Train hour five-at its-arriving needed was, but it-was-late.
- Sizga oldinroq qoʻngʻiroq qilishimiz kerak edi.
We should have called you earlier.
Word by Word: You-to earlier our-calling needed was.
- Buni unga aytmasligim kerak edi.
I should not have told him this.
Word by Word: This-(obj.) him-to my-not-telling needed was.
-maslik + -im: the negative of the verb noun.
- Kelishingiz kerak emas edi, lekin rahmat.
You did not have to come, but thank you.
Word by Word: Your-coming needed not was, but thanks.
kerak emas edi means there was no need.
Common Mistakes
Putting the person ending on kerak or edi.
Oldinroq aytish kerak edim.Oldinroq aytishim kerak edi.kerak edi does not change for person. The possessive ending goes on the verb noun: aytishim (my saying).
Using kerak emas edi when you mean should not have.
Kelishingiz kerak emas edi, bu yer xavfli.Kelmasligingiz kerak edi, bu yer xavfli.The speaker means that coming was a mistake. kerak emas edi only says there was no need. To say that someone should not have done it, make the verb noun negative: kelmasligingiz kerak edi.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Builds on Have To and Was and Were: edi.
Related Patterns
- kerakNeed
The word for need at the center of the pattern.
Level 2 - -maslikNot Doing: -maslik
The negative verb noun used in -masligi kerak edi: should not have.
Level 3 - -gan boʻlishi mumkinMay Have Done
May have done: a guess about the past instead of a duty.
Level 4 - -ishi mumkinMight: -ishi Mumkin
Uses the same -(i)sh + possessive form with mumkin: might.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice -ishi kerak edi in Bubblegum
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