Impersonal Passive
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The Impersonal Passive describes actions where the 'who' doesn't matter, focusing entirely on the 'what' using the suffixes -ıl, -il, -ul, or -ül.
- Add -ıl/-il/-ul/-ül to verb roots ending in consonants (e.g., yaz + ıl = yazıl).
- Add -n to verb roots ending in vowels (e.g., oxu + n = oxun).
- The subject is often omitted or 'it' is implied (e.g., Deyilir - It is said).
Meanings
A grammatical structure used to express an action without specifying the doer (agent). It is essential for formal writing, news reporting, and stating general truths.
General Truths
Used to describe things that are generally known or accepted by everyone.
“Azərbaycanda çay çox içilir.”
“Bahar gələndə ağaclar əkilir.”
Formal Announcements
Used in news, signs, and official documents to sound objective.
“Giriş qadağan edilir.”
“Yeni qanun qəbul olundu.”
Reported Information
Used when conveying rumors or information from an unspecified source.
“Deyilir ki, sabah yağış yağacaq.”
“Belə hesab edilir ki, bu ən yaxşı yoldur.”
Passive Voice Suffixes by Vowel Harmony
| Last Vowel | Suffix | Example Root | Passive Form | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a, ı | -ıl | yaz (write) | yazılmaq | to be written |
| e, i | -il | bil (know) | bilinmək | to be known |
| o, u | -ul | qur (build) | qurulmaq | to be built |
| ö, ü | -ül | gör (see) | görülmək | to be seen |
| Any Vowel | -n | oxu (read) | oxunmaq | to be read |
| Ends in 'l' | -ın/in/un/ün | al (take) | alınmaq | to be taken |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Root + Passive + Tense | Qapı açıldı (The door was opened) |
| Negative | Root + Passive + ma/mə + Tense | Qapı açılmadı (The door was not opened) |
| Question | Root + Passive + Tense + mi/mı? | Qapı açıldı mı? (Was the door opened?) |
| Present Continuous | Root + Passive + ır/ir/ur/ür | Məktub yazılır (The letter is being written) |
| Future | Root + Passive + acaq/əcək | İş görüləcək (The work will be done) |
| Modal (Must) | Root + Passive + malı/məli | Yol təmizlənməlidir (The road must be cleaned) |
| Reported Past | Root + Passive + ıb/ib/ub/üb | Maşın satılıb (The car has been sold - apparently) |
Formalitätsspektrum
Qapı bağlanmışdır. (General state)
Qapı bağlanıb. (General state)
Qapı bağlıdır. (General state)
Qapını örtdülər. (General state)
The World of the Passive Voice
News
- Deyilir It is said
- Xəbər verilir It is reported
Signs
- Giriş qadağandır Entry is forbidden
- Siqaret çəkilmir No smoking
Traditions
- Bişirilir Is cooked
- Qeyd edilir Is celebrated
Active vs. Passive
Choosing the Right Suffix
Does the root end in a vowel?
Does it end in 'l'?
Examples by Level
Qapı açılır.
The door is opening / is opened.
Məktub yazılır.
The letter is being written.
Çay içilir.
Tea is drunk.
Kitab oxunur.
The book is being read.
Burada siqaret çəkilmir.
Smoking is not allowed here.
Deyilir ki, o gələcək.
It is said that he will come.
Yeni bina tikilir.
A new building is being built.
Bayramda plov bişirilir.
Plov is cooked during the holiday.
Məsələ artıq həll olundu.
The issue has already been resolved.
Bu barədə qərar verildi.
A decision was made regarding this.
İmtahan nəticələri elan edildi.
Exam results were announced.
Sənədlər yoxlanılır.
The documents are being checked.
Bu yolla şəhərə gedilir.
One goes to the city by this road.
Ehtimal edilir ki, iqtisadiyyat artacaq.
It is assumed that the economy will grow.
Qanun layihəsi müzakirə olunur.
The draft law is being discussed.
Məlumat təsdiqlənməyib.
The information has not been confirmed.
Mövzuya konseptual baxımdan yanaşılır.
The subject is approached from a conceptual perspective.
Tədbirlər planı icra edilməkdədir.
The action plan is currently being implemented.
Bu əsərdə insan taleyi əks olunur.
Human destiny is reflected in this work.
Sözügedən problem aradan qaldırıldı.
The problem in question was eliminated.
Məsələnin mahiyyəti dərindən araşdırılmalıdır.
The essence of the matter must be thoroughly investigated.
İctimai rəy bu istiqamətdə formalaşdırılır.
Public opinion is being shaped in this direction.
Tarixi faktlar təhrif olunmamalıdır.
Historical facts must not be distorted.
Müqavilənin şərtlərinə ciddi əməl edilir.
The terms of the contract are strictly adhered to.
Easily Confused
Both use similar suffixes (-ıl vs -ın). Learners often mix up 'being washed' with 'washing oneself'.
Some verbs are naturally intransitive (like 'to fall' - düşmək) and don't need a passive suffix.
Learners don't know when to use 'Deyirlər' (They say) vs 'Deyilir' (It is said).
Häufige Fehler
Qapı açdı.
Qapı açıldı.
Məktub yazıl.
Məktub yazılır.
Çay içil.
Çay içilir.
Kitab oxuıldı.
Kitab oxundu.
Deyir ki...
Deyilir ki...
Mən tərəfindən yazıldı.
Mən yazdım.
Yol tikililir.
Yol tikilir.
O yuyuldu.
O yuyundu.
İş görülməlidir.
İş görülməlidir.
Məsələyə baxır.
Məsələyə baxılır.
Sentence Patterns
___-da/də ___ bişirilir.
Deyilir ki, ___ ___.
___ tərəfindən ___ edildi.
Bu məsələyə ___ baxılır.
Real World Usage
Yeni yol istifadəyə verildi.
Qapılar bağlanır.
Duz əlavə edilir.
Tədqiqat aparılır.
Deyilir ki, konsert olmayacaq.
Bu layihə üzərində işlənilib.
The Vowel Rule
Avoid 'By Me'
News Listening
Politeness
Smart Tips
Start your sentences with 'Deyilir ki...' or 'Məlumdur ki...'.
Always use -ın/in/un/ün to avoid the 'double L' sound.
Use a string of passive verbs to keep the focus on the product.
Check the root. If it's 'yuyulmaq', it's passive. If it's 'yuyunmaq', it's reflexive.
Aussprache
Suffix Stress
The stress usually falls on the syllable immediately before the passive suffix or on the tense suffix.
Soft 'L'
The 'l' in -ıl/il is clear and light, not a 'dark l'.
Statement
Qapı açıldı. ↘
A simple factual statement.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember 'ILL' (ıl, il, ul, ül) - when the subject is 'ill' and can't work, the passive voice takes over!
Visual Association
Imagine a stage where the actor (subject) is hidden behind a curtain, and only the object (like a floating book being read) is visible in the spotlight.
Rhyme
Vowel at the end? Add an 'N'. Consonant there? '-ıl' is your friend!
Story
In the Land of Grammar, the King (Subject) went on vacation. The Workers (Verbs) had to keep working, but they felt lonely. They put on 'Passive Capes' (-ıl/-il) so everyone would look at their work instead of looking for the King.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Look around your room and name 3 things using the passive voice (e.g., 'The light is turned on', 'The window is closed') in Azerbaijani.
Kulturelle Hinweise
In Azerbaijan, you will often hear 'Çay süzüldü' (Tea has been poured). Using the passive voice here makes the hospitality feel like a natural, flowing process rather than a chore performed by a specific person.
Azerbaijani news (like AzTV) uses the impersonal passive almost exclusively to maintain a sense of state authority and objectivity.
Many Azerbaijani proverbs use the passive to express universal truths that apply to everyone.
The passive suffixes -ıl and -ın date back to Old Turkic (Orkhon inscriptions).
Conversation Starters
Sizin ölkənizdə hansı yeməklər bişirilir?
Azərbaycanda hansı bayramlar qeyd edilir?
Şəhərinizdə yeni binalar tikilirmi?
Deyilir ki, gələcəkdə robotlar hər şeyi edəcək. Siz necə düşünürsünüz?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Məktub ___.
Qapı aç___dı.
Find and fix the mistake:
Kitab oxuıldı.
Active: O, çay içir. Passive: ___
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Burada siqaret çəkilmir.
A: İclas nə vaxtdır? B: İclas saat üçdə ___.
Verbs: 1. Satılır, 2. Alır, 3. Tikilir, 4. Gedir
Score: /8
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesMəktub ___.
Qapı aç___dı.
Find and fix the mistake:
Kitab oxuıldı.
Active: O, çay içir. Passive: ___
Match: 1. Demək, 2. Görmək, 3. Almaq
Burada siqaret çəkilmir.
A: İclas nə vaxtdır? B: İclas saat üçdə ___.
Verbs: 1. Satılır, 2. Alır, 3. Tikilir, 4. Gedir
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
Generally, `-ıl` is for passive (done by someone else) and `-ın` is for reflexive (done to oneself). However, if the root ends in 'l', we use `-ın` for the passive too.
Most transitive verbs (verbs that take an object) can be passive. Some intransitive verbs can also be passive in Azerbaijani to create an impersonal 'one does' meaning.
Yes, it is more formal than 'Deyirlər ki'. It is commonly used in news and academic writing.
You use the word `tərəfindən` after the person, but use it sparingly as it can sound unnatural.
Because 'oxu' ends in a vowel. For vowel-ending roots, we use the suffix `-n` instead of `-ıl`.
No, the passive suffix comes before the tense suffix. You can have passive verbs in past, present, or future.
It is less common than active voice but very common for rules, general facts, and polite indirectness.
The negative is `yazılmır`. You add the negative suffix `-m` after the passive suffix.
In Other Languages
be + past participle
Azerbaijani doesn't need an auxiliary verb like 'is' or 'was'.
se impersonal / voz pasiva
Spanish uses a separate particle 'se', while Azerbaijani uses a suffix.
Passiv mit 'werden' / 'man'
German requires a change in word order and an auxiliary verb.
～られる (rareru)
Japanese passive can also express 'adversity' (something bad happened to me), which Azerbaijani doesn't do with this suffix.
Majhul (Passive Voice)
Arabic uses internal inflection (vowel changes), while Azerbaijani is agglutinative (adding pieces).
被 (bèi)
Azerbaijani passive is used much more frequently for neutral or positive facts.
