Causative Suffixes (-dır/-dir, -t)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The causative changes a verb to show that the subject is making or letting someone else perform the action.
- Use -dır⁴ for most consonant-ending stems: yaz (write) → yazdır (make write).
- Use -t for vowel-ending stems or stems ending in 'r': oxu (read) → oxut (make read).
- The person doing the action takes the Dative case (-a/-ə) if the original verb was transitive.
Causative Formation by Stem Ending
| Stem Type | Suffix | Example Stem | Causative Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Consonant (a, ı, o, u)
|
-dar / -dur
|
yaz (write)
|
yazdır-
|
to make write
|
|
Consonant (ə, i, ö, ü)
|
-dir / -dür
|
gül (laugh)
|
güldür-
|
to make laugh
|
|
Vowel Ending
|
-t
|
oxu (read)
|
oxut-
|
to make read
|
|
Ending in 'r'
|
-t
|
bişir (cook)
|
bişirt-
|
to have cooked
|
|
Short stems (rare)
|
-ar/-ər
|
çıx (go out)
|
çıxar-
|
to take out
|
|
Irregular
|
-ız⁴
|
qalx (rise)
|
qaldır-
|
to raise / lift
|
Meanings
The causative voice indicates that the subject does not perform the action themselves but causes another person or agent to perform it, or allows it to happen.
Compulsion/Command
Forcing or ordering someone to do something.
“Müəllim tələbəyə mətni oxutdu. (The teacher made the student read the text.)”
Service/Delegation
Paying for a service or asking someone to do a task for you.
“Saçımı kəsdirdim. (I had my hair cut.)”
“Maşını təmir etdirdim. (I had the car repaired.)”
Permission
Allowing an action to take place.
“Uşağa dondurma yedirtdim. (I let the child eat ice cream / I fed the child ice cream.)”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Stem + Causative + Tense + Person
|
Yazdırdım (I had it written)
|
|
Negative
|
Stem + Causative + ma/mə + Tense + Person
|
Yazdırmadım (I didn't have it written)
|
|
Interrogative
|
Stem + Causative + Tense + Person + mi⁴?
|
Yazdırdınmı? (Did you have it written?)
|
|
Potential
|
Stem + Causative + a/ə + bil + Tense
|
Yazdıra bildim (I was able to have it written)
|
|
Imperative
|
Stem + Causative
|
Yazdır! (Have it written!)
|
|
Necessity
|
Stem + Causative + malı/məli
|
Yazdırmalıyam (I must have it written)
|
Spectre de formalité
Hesabatı hazırlatdırdım. (Workplace)
Hesabatı hazırlatdım. (Workplace)
Hesabatı düzəltdirdim. (Workplace)
Hesabatı həll elətdirdim. (Workplace)
The Causative Chain
Action
- Sifariş vermək To order
- Məcbur etmək To force
Suffixes
- -dır⁴ Standard
- -t Vowel/R stems
Intransitive vs. Transitive Causative
Which suffix should I use?
Does the stem end in a vowel?
Does the stem end in 'r'?
Exemples par niveau
Məni güldür.
Make me laugh.
O, dərsi oxutdu.
He made (someone) read the lesson.
Anam mənə yemək yedirtdi.
My mother fed me food.
Suyu içirt.
Make (him) drink the water.
Saçımı kəsdirdim.
I had my hair cut.
Müəllim bizə tapşırıq yazdırdı.
The teacher made us write an assignment.
Evi təmizlətdim.
I had the house cleaned.
Qapını bağlatdı.
He had the door closed.
Mən ustaya maşını təmir etdirdim.
I had the master repair the car.
Müdir katibəyə məktubu göndərtdi.
The manager had the secretary send the letter.
Uşağı həkimə müayinə etdirdik.
We had the doctor examine the child.
Yeni layihəni hamıya bəyəndirdik.
We made everyone like the new project.
Bu qanunu parlamentdə təsdiqlətdilər.
They had this law approved in parliament.
O, özünü hamıya hörmət etdirdi.
He made everyone respect him.
Sənədləri notariusa təsdiqlətməliyik.
We must have the documents certified by a notary.
Yalanlarını bizə inandıra bilmədi.
He couldn't make us believe his lies.
Müəllif öz fikirlərini oxucuya mənimsətdi.
The author made the reader internalize his ideas.
Şirkət rəhbərliyi işçilərə yeni qaydaları qəbul etdirməkdə çətinlik çəkir.
The company management is having difficulty making the employees accept the new rules.
O, bu hadisəni hamıya unutdurmağa çalışır.
He is trying to make everyone forget this incident.
Siyasi xadim öz nüfuzunu xalqa hiss etdirdi.
The political figure made the people feel his influence.
Dövlət başçısı islahatların zəruriliyini cəmiyyətin bütün təbəqələrinə təlqin etdirdi.
The head of state instilled the necessity of reforms into all layers of society.
Klassik poeziyada şair öz dərdini oxucuya ortaq etdirir.
In classical poetry, the poet makes the reader a partner to his grief.
Bu mürəkkəb prosesi sadələşdirməklə onu kütlələrə sevdirdilər.
By simplifying this complex process, they made the masses love it.
O, taleyin amansızlığını qəhrəmanına dərk etdirdi.
He made his hero realize the ruthlessness of fate.
Facile à confondre
Both change the verb stem and can look similar (e.g., -dır vs -ıl).
The suffix -dır is also the 3rd person singular copula (to be).
Erreurs courantes
Mən onu yazdırdım (meaning 'I made him write it')
Mən ona yazdırdım
Yazdurmaq
Yazdırmaq
Oxudırmaq
Oxutmaq
Mən saçım kəsdirdim
Mən saçımı kəsdirdim
Ona güldürdüm
Onu güldürdüm
Yemək bişirdirdim
Yemək bişirtdim
Müəllim tələbəni oxutdu
Müəllim tələbəyə oxutdu
Mən maşını təmir etdim (when you mean someone else did it)
Mən maşını təmir etdirdim
Məktubu yazdırılmaq
Məktubu yazdırmaq
Ona qaçdırdım
Onu qaçırtdım
Structures de phrases
Mən ___ (person-Dative) ___ (object-Accusative) ___ (verb-Causative).
Mən ___ (person-Accusative) ___ (verb-Causative).
Real World Usage
Saçımı qısa kəsdirin.
Yağı dəyişdirin.
Sənədləri imzalatdırdım.
Uşağa süd içirt.
Mənə zəng elətdir.
Hesabı gətirt.
The 'R' Rule
Don't over-causative!
Double Causatives
Politeness
Smart Tips
Always use the causative. It shows you are the customer and someone else is providing the service.
Don't even think about -dır. Just slap a -t on it and you'll be right 99% of the time.
Ask yourself: 'Can I [verb] something?' If yes (transitive), use Dative (-a). If no (intransitive), use Accusative (-ı).
Use the double causative -dırt/-dirt to show that you are overseeing a process rather than just doing one thing.
Prononciation
Stress on the suffix
In causative verbs, the stress usually falls on the causative suffix itself, unless followed by a negative or certain tense markers.
Soft 't'
The -t suffix after a vowel is short and sharp.
Commanding Causative
Onu bura gətirt! (↑)
Strong command to have something brought.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
DIRty work: Use -DIR when you make someone else do the DIRty work for you.
Association visuelle
Imagine a boss sitting at a desk pointing at a worker. The boss is the Subject, the worker is the Causee (Dative/Accusative), and the pointing finger is the -dır suffix.
Rhyme
Vowel or R, use a T / Consonant sound, -DIR it must be!
Story
A lazy king wanted a letter written. He didn't 'yaz' (write) it; he 'yaz-dır' (made write) it. He called his servant (Dative case) and gave him the pen. The king is the subject, but the suffix -dır shows the servant did the work.
Word Web
Défi
Look around your room. Identify three things you didn't do yourself (e.g., building the house, making the bed, cooking dinner). Try to form Azerbaijani causative verbs for these actions.
Notes culturelles
In Azerbaijan, hosts often use causative verbs like 'yedirtmək' (to make eat/feed) to show care. It's not forceful; it's a sign of generosity.
When dealing with documents, the causative 'təsdiqlətmək' (to have certified) is essential. You don't certify it; the official does, but you 'cause' it.
Using the causative correctly shows you understand who is performing the labor. Using the active voice for a service you paid for can sometimes sound like you are boasting about your own manual skills.
The causative suffixes -dır and -t trace back to Proto-Turkic. The suffix -dır is related to the verb 'turmaq' (to stand/stay), implying making something 'stand' or 'be' in a certain state.
Amorces de conversation
Saçınızı harada kəsdirirsiniz?
Maşınınızı axırıncı dəfə nə vaxt təmir etdirmisiniz?
Uşaqlıqda valideynləriniz sizə nəyi məcburi etdirirdilər?
İş yerində tapşırıqları necə bölüşdürürsünüz? Kimə nəyi etdirirsiniz?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
Müəllim tələbəyə kitabı ___.
Mən ___ (o) güldürdüm.
Find and fix the mistake:
Mən ustaya maşını təmir etdim.
Mən ___.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
If a verb is transitive, the causee takes the Dative case.
A: Saçın çox gözəldir! B: Çox sağ ol, dünən ___.
Verbs: Silmək, Oxumaq, Gətirmək, Baxmaq
Score: /8
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesMüəllim tələbəyə kitabı ___.
Mən ___ (o) güldürdüm.
Find and fix the mistake:
Mən ustaya maşını təmir etdim.
Mən ___.
1. Yazmaq, 2. Gülmək, 3. Bişirmək
If a verb is transitive, the causee takes the Dative case.
A: Saçın çox gözəldir! B: Çox sağ ol, dünən ___.
Verbs: Silmək, Oxumaq, Gətirmək, Baxmaq
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
Yes! This is called a double causative (e.g., `hazırlatdırmaq`). it usually means you had someone else arrange for the action to be done by a third party.
In these cases, the suffix is already part of the verb's identity. To make it 'more' causative, you might add another suffix, but it's rare.
No, you can omit the causee if it's obvious. `Məktubu yazdırdım` (I had the letter written) is perfectly fine without saying who wrote it.
Azerbaijani uses the same causative suffix for both. Context and tone tell the difference. To be explicit for 'let', you can use the verb `icazə vermək` (to give permission).
No, the causative suffix is added to the stem, and then you add any tense you want (past, present, future).
These are archaic causative suffixes that survive in a few common verbs like `çıxarmaq` or `qaldırmaq`. You just have to memorize these as vocabulary.
It can be, if you are offering a service (e.g., 'Sizi güldürdüm' - I made you laugh). But avoid using it as a command to elders.
`Bişirmək` is already causative (to make something cook/to cook). `Bişirtmək` is the causative of that (to have someone cook something).
Scaffolded Practice
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Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
make / have / let
Azerbaijani uses a suffix; English uses a separate verb.
hacer + infinitive
Spanish is analytic (two verbs); Azerbaijani is synthetic (one verb).
faire + infinitive
The syntax of the causee (Dative vs. Accusative) is remarkably similar.
lassen
German 'lassen' is a modal-like verb; Azerbaijani is a suffix.
saseru (使役)
Very few; both languages treat the causative as a morphological derivation.
Form II (Fa'ala) / Form IV (Af'ala)
Arabic uses templates/patterns; Azerbaijani uses suffixes.
让 (ràng) / 使 (shǐ)
Chinese has no suffixes; it relies entirely on word order.
