-gancha
While Staying, As It Is
Verb + -gancha = while staying in that state: oʻtirgancha uxlab qoldi (he fell asleep sitting up), yechmagancha yotdi (she lay down without taking them off).
How It Works
Use -gancha for a position or state that someone keeps up the whole time the main action happens. It answers the question how, in what state?
1. Building it
Add -gancha to the verb stem:
- oʻtir- → oʻtirgancha (sitting, staying seated)
- tikil- → tikilgancha (staring)
- suyan- → suyangancha (leaning)
The same form works for every person: Men oʻtirgancha uxlab qoldim, U oʻtirgancha uxlab qoldi. You will also see the longer form -ganicha (oʻtirganicha) with the same meaning.
2. Spelling after k and q
Because it starts like -gan, it follows the same rule: chek- → chekkancha (smoking), tiq- → tiqqancha (with something stuffed in). See g-initial endings after k and q.
3. The negative
-magancha says something was not done and stayed undone: Kiyimini yechmagancha yotdi. She lay down without taking off her clothes. U hech narsa demagancha chiqib ketdi. He walked out without saying a word. Compare -masdan, which simply says without doing. -magancha adds that the situation stays that way.
4. Which verbs fit
The first verb should name something that can last: a position (oʻtir-, tur-, yot-, suyan-), a look (tikil-, qara-), silence (indamagancha) or a feeling. For a quick action followed by another, use -(i)b: Uyga kelib, ovqat qildi (She came home and cooked). With a verb like kel-, -gancha can also mean by the time: Oyim kelgancha uyni tozalab boʻldik (By the time Mum came, we had finished cleaning the house). For a plain until, -guncha is the usual choice.
Examples (6)
- U oʻtirgancha uxlab qoldi.
He fell asleep sitting up.
Word by Word: He staying-seated slept-remained.
- Kiyimini yechmagancha yotdi.
She lay down without taking off her clothes.
Word by Word: Clothes-her-(obj.) not-having-taken-off lay.
- Bola onasiga tikilgancha jim turdi.
The child stood silently, staring at his mother.
Word by Word: Child mother-his-to staring silent stood.
- Chol hassasiga suyangancha yoʻl boʻyida kutib turardi.
The old man stood waiting at the roadside, leaning on his stick.
Word by Word: Old-man stick-his-to leaning road side-at waiting was-standing.
- U hech narsa demagancha chiqib ketdi.
He walked out without saying a word.
Word by Word: He no thing not-having-said going-out left.
- U qoʻllarini choʻntagiga tiqqancha gaplashdi.
He talked with his hands stuffed in his pockets.
Word by Word: He hands-his-(obj.) pocket-his-to having-stuffed talked.
tiq- ends in q, so the ending is written -qancha.
Common Mistakes
Keeping g after a stem that ends in k.
U sigaret chekgancha derazadan qarab turdi.U sigaret chekkancha derazadan qarab turdi.Endings that begin with g are written with k after k and with q after q: chekkancha, tiqqancha.
Using -gancha for a one-moment action followed by the next one.
Uyga kelgancha ovqat qildi. (meaning: She came home and cooked.)Uyga kelib, ovqat qildi.Coming home is a single moment, not a state that lasts, so kelgancha is read as by the time she came home. For one action after another, use -(i)b: kelib.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Builds on Linking Actions With -(i)b and The Past Participle -gan.
Related Patterns
- -masdan / -mayWithout Doing
Says without doing; -magancha adds that things stayed that way.
Level 3 - -gan holdaIn a State of: -gan Holda
A more formal way to describe the state someone is in during the action.
Level 5 - -gunchaUntil and Before: -guncha
The usual ending for until or before; -gancha means by the time only with a few verbs such as kel-.
Level 3 - -(i)b oʻtirmoqSitting There Doing: -(i)b Oʻtirmoq
Also describes a situation that goes on and on.
Level 4 - G-Initial Endings After K and Q
Explains why the ending is written -kancha after k and -qancha after q.
Level 3
Practice -gancha in Bubblegum
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