Reflexive-Passive Verbs
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use suffixes like -ıl or -ın to show an action happens to the subject or the subject does it to themselves.
- Add -ıl/-il/-ul/-ül to most consonants for passive (e.g., yazılmaq - to be written).
- Add -ın/-in/-un/-ün to vowels or the letter 'l' for passive/reflexive (e.g., oxunmaq - to be read).
- Reflexive verbs show the subject acting on themselves (e.g., yuyunmaq - to wash oneself).
Meanings
These verb forms modify the relationship between the subject and the action. The passive voice indicates the subject receives the action, while the reflexive voice indicates the subject performs the action on themselves.
Passive Voice (Məchul növ)
The focus is on the action or the object receiving the action, often because the doer is unknown or unimportant.
“Məktub yazıldı (The letter was written)”
“Yol bağlandı (The road was closed)”
Reflexive Voice (Qayıdış növ)
The subject performs the action on themselves. The doer and the receiver are the same person.
“Uşaq yuyundu (The child washed himself)”
“Qız darandı (The girl combed her hair)”
Middle/Involuntary Voice
Actions that happen naturally or spontaneously without a clear external agent.
“Hava açıldı (The weather cleared up)”
“Gül açıldı (The flower bloomed)”
Passive/Reflexive Suffix Selection
| Last Vowel of Root | Suffix Type | Example Root | Transformed Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a / ı | -ıl / -ın | yaz (write) | yazılmaq | to be written |
| e / i | -il / -in | sil (wipe) | silinmək | to be wiped |
| o / u | -ul / -un | qur (build) | qurulmaq | to be built |
| ö / ü | -ül / -ün | gör (see) | görülmək | to be seen |
| Vowel (any) | -n | oxu (read) | oxunmaq | to be read |
| Ending in 'l' | -ın/in/un/ün | al (take) | alınmaq | to be taken |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Root + Suffix + Tense + Person | Yazıldı | It was written |
| Negative | Root + Suffix + ma/mə + Tense | Yazılmadı | It wasn't written |
| Question | Root + Suffix + Tense + mı/mi? | Yazıldı mı? | Was it written? |
| Reflexive | Root + ın/in/un/ün + Tense | Yuyundu | He washed himself |
| Passive (Vowel) | Root + n + Tense | Oxundu | It was read |
| Passive (Ending in L) | Root + ın + Tense | Alındı | It was bought |
| Future Passive | Root + Suffix + acaq/əcək | Görüləcək | It will be seen |
| Present Passive | Root + Suffix + ır/ir/ur/ür | Tikilir | It is being built |
طیف رسمیت
Qapı tərəfimizdən açılmışdır. (General action)
Qapı açıldı. (General action)
Qapı açıldı da. (General action)
Qapı açıldı, vəssalam. (General action)
The World of Azerbaijani Verb Voice
Passive (Məchul)
- Yazılmaq To be written
- Açılmaq To be opened
Reflexive (Qayıdış)
- Yuyunmaq To wash oneself
- Geyinmək To dress oneself
Active vs. Passive
Which Suffix Should I Use?
Does the root end in a vowel?
Does it end in 'l'?
Common Reflexive Verbs
Grooming
- • Daranmaq (comb)
- • Yuyunmaq (wash)
- • Təraş olunmaq (shave)
Clothing
- • Geyinmək (dress)
- • Soyunmaq (undress)
- • Hazırlanmaq (get ready)
Examples by Level
Mən yuyunuram.
I am washing myself.
Qapı açıldı.
The door opened / was opened.
O geyindi.
He got dressed.
Yemək hazırlandı.
The food was prepared.
Məktub dünən yazıldı.
The letter was written yesterday.
Pəncərələr silinmədi.
The windows were not cleaned.
Sən darandın mı?
Did you comb your hair?
Bu kitab çox oxunur.
This book is read a lot.
Şəhərdə yeni məktəb tikilir.
A new school is being built in the city.
O, bu xəbərə çox sevindi.
He was very happy (rejoiced) at this news.
Maşın təmir olundu.
The car was repaired.
Sənədlər hələ imzalanmayıb.
The documents haven't been signed yet.
Qanun layihəsi parlamentdə müzakirə edildi.
The draft law was discussed in parliament.
O, aynanın qarşısında bəzəndi.
She adorned herself in front of the mirror.
Məsələ tezliklə həll olunacaq.
The issue will be resolved soon.
Bu sözlər səhv başa düşüldü.
These words were misunderstood.
Tədbirin vaxtı qəfildən dəyişdirildi.
The time of the event was suddenly changed.
Onun gəlişi ilə bütün planlar alt-üst oldu.
With his arrival, all plans were turned upside down.
Həqiqət gec-tez üzə çıxarılacaq.
The truth will be brought to light sooner or later.
Müqavilənin şərtləri yenidən nəzərdən keçirilməlidir.
The terms of the contract must be reviewed again.
Xalqın iradəsi bu qərarda öz əksini tapmışdır.
The will of the people has found its reflection in this decision.
Qədim abidələr dövlət tərəfindən mühafizə olunur.
Ancient monuments are protected by the state.
Onun əsərləri dünya dillərinə tərcümə edilib yayılmaqdadır.
His works are being translated into world languages and disseminated.
Mövzu ətrafında geniş fikir mübadiləsi aparıldı.
An extensive exchange of views was conducted around the topic.
Easily Confused
Some verbs look passive but are just naturally intransitive (e.g., 'yıxılmaq' - to fall).
Learners want to use -ıl for everything passive, but 'L' roots are special.
Using 'özümü' with a reflexive verb.
اشتباهات رایج
Mən özümü yuyunuram
Mən yuyunuram
Qapı açdı
Qapı açıldı
Yazıldı mı?
Yazıldımı?
O geyindi paltar
O paltar geyindi
Kitab alıldı
Kitab alındı
Məktub yazıldı dünən
Məktub dünən yazıldı
Pəncərə silildi
Pəncərə silindi
O tərəfindən yazdı
Onun tərəfindən yazıldı
İş görüldü mənimlə
İş mənim tərəfimdən görüldü
Hava açdı
Hava açıldı
Qərar verildi tərəfindən müdir
Qərar müdir tərəfindən verildi
Sözlər səhv anlaşıldı
Sözlər səhv başa düşüldü
Sentence Patterns
___ (Object) ___ (Suffix) + dı.
Mən səhər ___ (Reflexive Verb).
Bu bina ___ (Year) ___ (Passive Verb).
___ tərəfindən ___ (Passive Verb).
Real World Usage
Şəkil paylaşıldı (Photo was shared)
Yeni qanun qəbul edildi (New law was adopted)
Sifarişiniz hazırlandı (Your order was prepared)
Bu layihə mənim tərəfimdən idarə olunub (This project was managed by me)
Geyinib çıxıram (I'm dressing and leaving)
Reys təxirə salındı (The flight was delayed)
The 'L' Rule
Don't over-reflexive
Vowel Harmony Check
Politeness
Smart Tips
Immediately think of 'n' for the passive suffix. Never use 'l' twice.
Use the reflexive suffixes instead of saying 'özümü'. It's more natural.
Use the passive voice to focus on the result rather than the person's effort.
Always use the reflexive/passive form 'açıldı'.
تلفظ
Suffix Stress
In Azerbaijani, the stress usually falls on the last syllable of the verb root before the passive suffix, but the suffix itself is pronounced clearly.
Soft 'L'
The 'l' in '-ıl' is a soft, dental 'l'.
Passive Statement
Qapı açıldı. (Falling tone)
A simple factual statement.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember 'L' for 'Leveling the focus' (Passive) and 'N' for 'Near to self' (Reflexive).
Visual Association
Imagine a mirror. When you look in it, you see yourself (Reflexive -n). Imagine a curtain falling over a stage. You see the play, but not the stagehands (Passive -l).
Rhyme
If it ends in L, use N to tell. If it's a vowel, N is the tool.
Story
A king (the subject) usually does everything (Active). One day he gets tired and wants things done for him (Passive -ıl). Then he decides to just take care of his own beard (Reflexive -ın).
Word Web
چالش
Look around your room and name three things that were 'done' (e.g., the light was turned on, the bed was made) using the passive voice.
نکات فرهنگی
In Baku, people often shorten the passive forms in fast speech, sometimes swallowing the 'ı' sound slightly.
Speakers in Tabriz might use the reflexive more frequently in places where Northern speakers use the active voice, influenced by Persian structures.
Using the passive voice in a host's house (e.g., 'The tea was very good') is considered more polite than saying 'You made good tea,' as it focuses on the quality of the hospitality.
These suffixes date back to Old Turkic (Orkhon inscriptions), where '-(ı)l' and '-(ı)n' were already used to distinguish voice.
Conversation Starters
Dünən nə işlər görüldü?
Səhər saat neçədə oyandın?
Bu kitab harada çap olunub?
Səncə, bu problem necə həll oluna bilər?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Məktub dünən ___.
Mən tez ___-in-dim.
Find and fix the mistake:
Kitab mağazadan alıldı.
açıldı / qapı / qəfildən
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
The suffix -ıl is used after roots ending in a vowel.
A: Çay hazırdır? B: Bəli, çay ___.
Geyinmək, Yazılmaq, Daranmaq, Tikilmək
Score: /8
تمرینهای عملی
8 exercisesMəktub dünən ___.
Mən tez ___-in-dim.
Find and fix the mistake:
Kitab mağazadan alıldı.
açıldı / qapı / qəfildən
1. Yumaq, 2. Yazmaq, 3. Oxumaq
The suffix -ıl is used after roots ending in a vowel.
A: Çay hazırdır? B: Bəli, çay ___.
Geyinmək, Yazılmaq, Daranmaq, Tikilmək
Score: /8
سوالات متداول (8)
Generally, `-ıl` is passive and `-ın` is reflexive, but `-ın` is also used for passive if the verb root ends in a vowel or the letter 'l'.
Yes, you can use the word `tərəfindən` (by) to mention the doer, e.g., `Müəllim tərəfindən yazıldı`.
Because the root 'al' ends in 'l'. Azerbaijani avoids double 'l' sounds in suffixes, so it switches to 'n'.
Yes, it specifically means to wash oneself. If you wash something else, you use the active 'yumaq'.
Add the negative suffix `-ma/-mə` after the passive suffix: `Qapı açıl-ma-dı`.
Some verbs like `yorulmaq` (to get tired) look passive but are used as standard intransitive verbs.
It can sound more formal in writing, but it is very common in everyday speech for results.
Most reflexive actions use -ın, but some use compound forms with 'öz'. However, for grooming, -ın is the standard.
In Other Languages
se + verb
Spanish uses a separate word (se), while Azerbaijani uses a suffix.
se + verb
Azerbaijani uses the same suffix family for both, whereas French uses different structures.
sich / werden
German has a completely different auxiliary verb for passive voice.
-reru / -rareru
Japanese passive can imply the subject is negatively affected, which Azerbaijani doesn't necessarily do.
Form VII (in-) / Form VIII (-ta-)
Arabic changes the internal vowel structure or adds prefixes, while Azerbaijani only adds suffixes.
被 (bèi)
Chinese has no verb conjugation or suffixes at all.
