kim ... -sa, u ...

Whoever Does, That Person

Level 5

kim + verb in -sa, then u = whoever does this, that person does that: Kim koʻp oʻqisa, u koʻp biladi (Whoever reads a lot knows a lot).

How It Works

1. The two halves
The first clause holds a question word and a verb in the -sa form. The second clause holds a pointing word that answers it. The -sa clause comes first, and a comma separates the two.

  • kim ... -sa, u / oʻsha: whoever
  • nima ... -sa, shu / shuni: whatever
  • qayerga ... -sa, oʻsha yerga: wherever
  • qachon ... -sa, oʻshanda: whenever
  • qanday ... -sa, shunday: in whatever way

2. Each word takes its own ending
The question word takes the ending its own clause needs. The pointing word takes the ending the main verb needs: Kim birinchi kelsa, unga sovgʻa beramiz (We'll give a present to whoever comes first). Here kim is the one who comes, and unga is the one who gets the present. In Nima desangiz, shuni qilaman (I'll do whatever you say), shuni takes -ni because it is the object of qilaman. Remember the extra n in unga and shunga.

3. Leaving out the pointing word
When the pointing word would be a plain subject, you can drop it: Kim koʻp oʻqisa, koʻp biladi. When it carries a case ending, it usually stays, because the ending shows its role in the main clause.

4. Proverbs love this pattern
Nima eksang, shuni oʻrasan means you reap what you sow (literally, whatever you sow, that is what you reap). Schoolbooks quote Kim harakat qilsa, u baraka topadi (Whoever makes an effort will prosper).

5. Not the same as kim boʻlsa ham
Kim boʻlsa ham means no matter who, and it needs no pointing word: Kim boʻlsa ham, eshikni ochmang (Don't open the door, no matter who it is). Literary Uzbek starts the same kind of sentence with kimki, which sounds solemn.

Examples (6)

  1. Kim koʻp oʻqisa, u koʻp biladi.

    Whoever reads a lot knows a lot.

    Word by Word: Who much reads-if, he much knows.

  2. Nima desangiz, shuni qilaman.

    I'll do whatever you say.

    Word by Word: What you-say-if, that-(object) I-do.

    Shuni takes -ni because it is the object of qilaman.

  3. Kim birinchi kelsa, unga sovgʻa beramiz.

    We'll give a present to whoever comes first.

    Word by Word: Who first comes-if, to-him present we-give.

    Unga takes -ga because that person receives the present.

  4. Qayerga borsang, men ham oʻsha yerga boraman.

    Wherever you go, I'll go there too.

    Word by Word: Where-to you-go-if, I too that place-to go.

  5. Qachon vaqtingiz boʻlsa, oʻshanda keling.

    Come whenever you have time.

    Word by Word: When time-your is-if, then come.

  6. Nima eksang, shuni oʻrasan.

    You reap what you sow.

    Word by Word: What you-sow-if, that-(object) you-reap.

    A well-known proverb.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a plain verb instead of the -sa form in the first clause.

    Kim koʻp oʻqiydi, u koʻp biladi.
    Kim koʻp oʻqisa, u koʻp biladi.

    Without -sa, the first part is just a question: Who reads a lot? The -sa ending is what turns kim into whoever and ties the two clauses together.

  • Leaving the pointing word in the plain form when the main verb needs a case ending.

    Kim birinchi kelsa, u sovgʻa beramiz.
    Kim birinchi kelsa, unga sovgʻa beramiz.

    You give a present to someone, so the pointing word needs -ga: unga. The question word and the pointing word each take the ending of their own clause.

How It Connects

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

kim ... -sa, u ...Level 5Whoever Does, That Person

Learn This First

Builds on If: -sa, Who and The Extra n in unga and bunga.

Words in This Pattern

kimnimaushuoʻsha