Negation (-ma)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To make a verb negative in Uzbek, simply add the suffix '-ma' directly to the verb stem before adding tense endings.
- Identify the verb stem: 'bor' (go) -> 'borma' (don't go).
- If the verb ends in a vowel, it still takes '-ma': 'o'qi' (read) -> 'o'qima' (don't read).
- The negative suffix always comes immediately after the root: 'kel' (come) -> 'kelma' (don't come).
Meanings
The -ma suffix is the standard way to negate verbs in Uzbek, indicating that an action is not happening, will not happen, or should not happen.
Prohibition
Used to tell someone not to do something.
“Gapirma!”
“Yugurma!”
Factual Negation
Stating that an action is not performed.
“U kelmaydi.”
“Biz bilmaymiz.”
Negative Conjugation (Present Tense)
| Person | Verb Root | Negative | Full Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men | bor | borma | bormayman |
| Sen | bor | borma | bormaysan |
| U | bor | borma | bormaydi |
| Biz | bor | borma | bormaymiz |
| Siz | bor | borma | bormaysiz |
| Ular | bor | borma | bormaydilar |
Common Negative Contractions
| Full | Shortened | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Bilmayman | Bilmayman | Standard |
| Kelmaydi | Kelmas | Literary/Formal |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Root + Tense | Boraman |
| Negative | Root + ma + Tense | Bormayman |
| Question | Root + Tense + mi? | Boramanmi? |
| Negative Question | Root + ma + Tense + mi? | Bormaymanmi? |
| Imperative | Root + ma | Borma! |
| Polite Imperative | Root + ma + ng | Bormang! |
Formalitätsspektrum
Borishni istamayman. (Declining an invitation)
Bormayman. (Declining an invitation)
Bormayman. (Declining an invitation)
Bormayman-da. (Declining an invitation)
The Negation Tree
Action
- bor go
Negation
- -ma not
Result
- bormayman I don't go
Negation vs Existence
Negation Decision Tree
Is it an action?
Negation Suffix Usage
Commands
- • Borma
- • Yema
- • Kirma
Facts
- • Bilmayman
- • Ishlamaydi
- • Ko'rmaymiz
Examples by Level
Men bormayman.
I am not going.
U yemaydi.
He/she is not eating.
Kelma!
Don't come!
Bilmayman.
I don't know.
Biz kino ko'rmaymiz.
We don't watch movies.
Ular ishlamaydi.
They don't work.
O'qimang.
Don't read (formal).
Yozmayman.
I am not writing.
Men bu haqda o'ylamayapman.
I am not thinking about this.
Ular hech narsa demadi.
They didn't say anything.
Kirmasligingiz kerak.
You shouldn't enter.
Tushunmasangiz so'rang.
If you don't understand, ask.
U hech qachon yolg'on gapirmaydi.
He never tells lies.
Biz buni kutmagan edik.
We didn't expect this.
Ishonmasangiz, o'zingiz ko'ring.
If you don't believe, see for yourself.
Ular kelmaslikka qaror qilishdi.
They decided not to come.
Uning aytganlarini tushunmay qoldim.
I failed to understand what he said.
Hech kim kelmaydigan bo'ldi.
It turned out no one would come.
Buni qilmaslikning iloji yo'q.
There is no way not to do this.
Ular hech narsadan qaytmaydigan odamlar.
They are people who stop at nothing.
Uning bu ishni qilmasligiga ishonchim komil.
I am convinced he will not do this.
Kelmasangiz ham, baribir boraman.
Even if you don't come, I will go anyway.
U hech qachon o'z so'zidan qaytmaydi.
He never goes back on his word.
Shunchalik tez ediki, ko'rmay qoldim.
It was so fast that I didn't see it.
Easily Confused
Learners use 'yo'q' for everything.
Learners use 'emas' with verbs.
Learners forget to negate the verb when using 'hech narsa'.
Häufige Fehler
yo'q boraman
bormayman
bor-moq-ma
borma
bormay
bormayman
bormaydi
bormayman
kelmaydilar
kelmaydi
ishlamay
ishlamayman
o'qimaymanmi
o'qimayman
kelmasman
kelmayman
bormaslik
bormaslik
yemayapti
yemayapti
kelmasinlar
kelmasin
yozmaslikka
yozmaslikka
bormaslikdan
bormaslikdan
kelmaydigan
kelmaydigan
Sentence Patterns
Men ___mayman.
Ular ___maydilar.
Agar ___masangiz, kirmang.
Hech kim ___maydi.
Real World Usage
Kelmayman.
Buni yemayman.
Buni bajarmayman.
Bormayman.
Tushunmayapman.
Qabul qilmayman.
Root check
Don't use yo'q
Politeness
Softening
Smart Tips
Always check for the -moq ending first.
If you can't add -ma, it's probably a noun.
Add -ng to the negative command.
Practice the -mayman ending until it's automatic.
Aussprache
Stress
The stress usually falls on the syllable before the -ma.
Falling
Bormayman. ↓
Statement of fact
Rising
Bormaymanmi? ↑
Surprise or question
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember: 'Ma' is like 'Mama' saying 'No!' to a child.
Visual Association
Imagine a big red 'MA' stamp being pressed onto a verb root.
Rhyme
Verb root plus ma, makes the negative law.
Story
Ali wanted to go to the park. He said 'Boraman'. But his mom said 'Borma!'. Ali was sad, so he said 'Bormayman'.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Write 5 things you don't do today using -ma.
Kulturelle Hinweise
Negation is often softened with particles like '-ku' or '-da' to avoid sounding too blunt.
In Tashkent, people often use 'mas' instead of 'maydi' in some contexts.
More formal and polite forms are preferred in rural areas.
The suffix '-ma' is a Proto-Turkic negative marker.
Conversation Starters
Bugun ishlaysizmi?
Kino ko'rasizmi?
Ular kelishadimi?
Bu ovqatni yeyapsizmi?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Men bormay____.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
U kelmaydi.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I don't eat.
Answer starts with: Yem...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
ishla -> ?
A: Borasizmi? B: ___.
Score: /8
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesMen bormay____.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
U kelmaydi.
bormayman / men / bugun
I don't eat.
bor -> ?
ishla -> ?
A: Borasizmi? B: ___.
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
Yes, it is universal for all verbs.
No, it is invariant.
Yo'q is for existence/nouns only.
It is neutral; use -ng for formal commands.
Add the past tense suffix after -ma.
Just add -ma as usual.
Yes, e.g., Bormaymanmi?
Mostly, yes, though some dialects vary.
In Other Languages
no + verb
Uzbek is suffix-based, Spanish is word-based.
ne + verb + pas
French is periphrastic, Uzbek is synthetic.
nicht
Uzbek integrates negation into the verb.
-nai
Japanese has complex conjugation rules for the suffix.
la
Uzbek is suffix-based.
bu
Uzbek is suffix-based.
