Conditional Suffix (-sa/-se)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The -sa/-se suffix turns any verb into an 'if' clause, helping you express conditions and possibilities.
- Add -sa/-se to the verb stem based on vowel harmony: 'bar-sa' (if he goes).
- Use -masa/-mese for negative conditions: 'bar-masa' (if he does not go).
- Add personal endings after the suffix to specify the subject: 'bar-sa-m' (if I go).
Meanings
The conditional suffix is used to express a condition that must be met for an action to occur or a state to exist.
Real Condition
Expressing a likely or possible condition.
“Oqysa, emtihannan ótedi.”
“Kelse, aytamyz.”
Conditional Conjugation (Verb: Bar-)
| Person | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Sg | Barsam | Barmasam |
| 2nd Sg | Barsañ | Barmasañ |
| 3rd Sg | Barsa | Barmasa |
| 1st Pl | Barsaq | Barmasaq |
| 2nd Pl | Barsañyz | Barmasañyz |
| 3rd Pl | Barsa | Barmasa |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Stem + sa/se | Kelse |
| Negative | Stem + ma/me + sa/se | Kelmese |
| 1st Person | Stem + sa/se + m | Kelse-m |
| 2nd Person | Stem + sa/se + ñ | Kelse-ñ |
| 3rd Person | Stem + sa/se | Kelse |
| Plural | Stem + sa/se + q | Kelse-q |
Spectre de formalité
Eger kelseñiz, sóylesemiz. (Meeting invitation)
Kelseñ, sóylesemiz. (Meeting invitation)
Kelseñ, sóylesemiz! (Meeting invitation)
Kelseñ, gipet etemiz. (Meeting invitation)
Conditional Logic
Action
- Bar-sa If he goes
Exemples par niveau
Barsañ, men baramyn.
If you go, I will go.
Eger kelse, ayt.
If he comes, tell me.
Jumys iste-mese, aqsha bolmaydy.
If he doesn't work, there will be no money.
Eger men bilet alsa-m, erteñ ushamyn.
If I buy a ticket, I will fly tomorrow.
Olar kelse, biz olarğa kómekteser edik.
If they came, we would help them.
Jasa-masa, ózi biledi.
If he doesn't do it, it's his business.
Eger ol aytpasa, biz bilmes edik.
If he hadn't said it, we wouldn't have known.
Facile à confondre
Learners mix up time and condition.
Erreurs courantes
Bar-se
Bar-sa
Bar-sa-ma
Bar-ma-sa
Eger bar-sa, men bar-dy.
Eger bar-sa, men bar-amyn.
Olar kelse-di.
Olar kelse.
Structures de phrases
Eger ___ bolsañ, ___.
Real World Usage
Kelseñ, ayt.
Vowel Harmony
Smart Tips
Always place the condition first.
Prononciation
Vowel Harmony
Ensure the suffix matches the stem's vowel.
Rising-Falling
Eger bar-sa / (pause) biz bar-amyz.
Indicates a conditional clause.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'SA' as 'Situation Always'—if the situation happens, the result follows.
Association visuelle
Imagine a bridge (the suffix) connecting two islands (the condition and the result).
Rhyme
If you want to say 'if', just add 'sa', it's not a cliff!
Story
A boy named 'Bar' wants to go to the park. He adds a 'sa' to his name to make a deal. 'If I go (Barsam), I will play.'
Word Web
Défi
Write 5 sentences using 'Eger' and the -sa suffix in 5 minutes.
Notes culturelles
Conditional sentences are often used in hospitality.
Turkic conditional suffix.
Amorces de conversation
Eger bos bolsañ, ne isteysiñ?
Sujets d'écriture
Test Yourself
Eger ol ___ (kel), biz ketemiz.
Score: /1
Exercices pratiques
1 exercisesEger ol ___ (kel), biz ketemiz.
Score: /1
FAQ (1)
Yes, it is universal.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Si + present indicative
Kazakh uses a suffix, Spanish uses a word.
Si + present
Kazakh is agglutinative.
Wenn
Suffix vs conjunction.
-ba
Kazakh is more strictly agglutinative.
Idha
Word order differences.
Ruguo
No conjugation in Chinese.
