Uyghur grammar

Uyghur is a Turkic language spoken mostly in the west of China.

LIM:limitative case LMT:limitative case DV:direction voice PRN:pronominaliser SIM:similitude case EQU:equivalence case EQV:equivalence case INTENT:intention state INDIR:indirect statement mood HEARSAY:hearsay mood SUBJASS:subjective assessment mood OBJASS:objective assessment mood

Uyghur exhibits the agglutination characteristic to the Turkic family and its basic word order is subject-object-verb. It lacks grammatical gender and does not use articles. The language's inventory of 24 consonants and eight vowels features both vowel harmony and consonant harmony. Nouns are marked for ten cases, in general with suffixes and are additionally inflected for number.

This article uses both the Arabic script (official for the language) and Latin script for Uyghur words.

General characteristics

The typical word order in Uyghur is subject–object–verb, as in the sentence "men uyghurche oquymen", lit., "I Uyghur study" Compare this to English, where the sentence would be expressed with subject–verb–object order: "I study Uyghur".

Uyghur is an agglutinative language, meaning that potentially many suffixes (denoting person, number, case, mood, etc.) are usually all attached to one word stem. For example "to your house," the main word, house, occurs first, and the modifying elements are attached directly to the right and written all in one word:

ئۆيىڭىزگە

öy-ingiz-ge

home-2sg.POSS-DAT

ئۆيىڭىزگە

öy-ingiz-ge

home-2sg.POSS-DAT

"to your home"

ئىشلەۋاتقان

ishle-wat-qan

work-CONT-INDEF.PAST

ئىشلەۋاتقان

ishle-wat-qan

work-CONT-INDEF.PAST

"having worked"

Nouns are not distinguished for gender (e.g. male, female), unlike in such languages as French, Spanish and German. Nouns are usually pluralized (with the suffix +lAr) except when preceded by a numeral: compare "atlar" ("horses") and "ikki at" (two horses). Instead of using articles (like English "a", "the"), Uyghur uses demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that") and no marker or the numeral one (bir) to indicate definiteness and indefiniteness, respectively, "this cat/the cat" vs. بىر مۈشۈك(bir müshük) "a/one cat" or مۈشۈك(müshük) "cat/cats."

Uyghur verbs take, usually at least for tense (present, past) and person (I, you, s/he, they, etc.), for example

ئوقۇيمەن

oqu-y-men

read-PRES.FUT-1sg

ئوقۇيمەن

oqu-y-men

read-PRES.FUT-1sg

"I read/study."

Uyghur verbs can also take other suffixes to mark voice (causative, passive), aspect (continuous), mood (e.g. ability), as well as suffixes that change verbs into nouns—sometimes many all together:

ئوقۇۋاتقانىمدا

oqu-wat-qan-im-da

read-CONT-PCP.PST-POSS.1sg-LOC

ئوقۇۋاتقانىمدا

oqu-wat-qan-im-da

read-CONT-PCP.PST-POSS.1sg-LOC

"When I was studying"

Negation usually also appears as a verb suffix, e.g.

ئوقۇمايمەن

oqu-ma-y-men

read-NEG-PRES.FUT-1sg

ئوقۇمايمەن

oqu-ma-y-men

read-NEG-PRES.FUT-1sg

"I don't read."

Uyghur has vowel and consonant harmony, a system where vowels or consonants in a word come to match or become similar to each other, especially as suffixes and other elements are attached. Many but not all words and grammatical elements in Uyghur behave according to these harmonic principles. If a suffix is written with one or more capital letters (e.g. +DA, +lAr, +GA, etc.), these capital letters indicate that these sounds are harmonic, that is, variable: D= d/t, G= gh/q/g/k; K= k/q; A= a/e; I= i/u/ü or ø/i/u/ü.

Sound system

There are 32 basic sounds in Modern Uyghur.

Consonants

Uyghur has 24 consonants (listed here according to the Arabic-script alphabet): b, p, t, j, ch, x, d, r, z, zh, s, sh, gh, f, q, k, g, ng, l, m, n, x, h, w, y (and 25 consonants if the glottal stop ‘ is counted). Most are not pronounced much differently than their English counterparts (e.g. Uyghur j in baj "tax" is pronounced like j in judge; Uyghur ch in üch "three" is pronounced like ch in itch; Uyghur h in he’e "yes" is pronounced like h in hello), except that l has palatal or velar variants. A few sounds are not found in English: q gh and x. The voiceless uvular stop q [q] is pronounced like a back k, with the back of the tongue touching the soft palate, as in aq "white," Qeshqer "Kashgar." The sound gh [ʁ] ~ [ɣ] is typically a voiced fricative version of q, also pronounced at the very back of the mouth and sounds like French or German r, as in Roissy or Ruhr. (Near front vowels, gh is often pronounced more front, like French Rue or German Rübe.) Finally, the Uyghur voiceless velar or uvular fricative x [x] ~ [χ] is pronounced like ch in Scottish loch, or further back in the mouth, like a back version of German ach.

The four sounds k, g, q and gh are subject to consonant harmony: (1) within a stem (main word), they potentially determine its backness and (2) within a variable suffix, they conform to the backness and voicing of the preceding stem. Consonant harmony is discussed below.

The ژ zh [ʒ] (sounds like English garage), is only for foreign and onomatopoeic words like zhurnal ‘magazine, journal’ and pizh-pizh "sizzling." The letter ج j (normally pronounced [dʒ] as in baj ‘tax’) is in southern Xinjiang often pronounced [ʒ]. Initial y [j] can also be pronounced [ʒ] before i, e.g. yilan [ʒilan] ‘snake’.

In Uyghur words of Turkic origin, sh is rare, except as a suffix; similarly, since f was borrowed into Uyghur from Arabic and Persian, it is often replaced by p, especially in colloquial and rural usage: fakultët~pakultët ‘academic department’.

Vowels

Uyghur has eight vowels. Vowels are rounded (o, u, ü, ö) and unrounded (a, i, e, ë); this distinction is sometimes termed labial vs. non-labial; they are front (ü, ö, e, ë) or back (u, o, a). These distinctions are critical for harmonic purposes, since Uyghur words are subject to vowel harmony. The orthographic vowel i represents both a front [i] and a back [ɨ] and is not subject to vowel harmony.

Stress

Uyghur accent (stress or high pitch, which this article will for convenience call stress) is not well understood, yet some general remarks can be made to aid language learning. In Uyghur, stress is mostly determined by the length of syllables. This means that a syllable which is closed (i.e., ends in consonants [CVC or CVCC]) tends to attract stress, while a syllable which is open (i.e. ends in a vowel [CV]) does not. A rule of thumb is: stress the last syllable of the stem, e.g. ayagh "foot," Turpan'gha "to Turfan."

Words without closed syllables are likely to have the final syllable stressed.

Certain suffixes attract and repel stress.

Attract stress: -GAn, -Gu, (A)m, -(I)wat.

Repel stress (to the preceding vowel): -(I)wer.

Harmonic Rules

Word-internal harmony is relatively weak in Uyghur, but when suffixes are added to a word stem, certain suffix vowels and consonants harmonize with those of the stem. There are three variable vowels in Uyghur, A (a/e), I (i/u/ü), and U (u/ü). There are three harmonically variable consonant types: G (k/g/q/gh), K (k/q) and D (d/t). Uyghur's harmony system has three relevant components: voicing, backness and roundness harmony. Note that -AK will always be either -ek or -aq, and -IK can only be ik, iq, uq, or ük.

Archiphoneme table

Preceding vowel	A	I	U	G
ö	e	ü	ü	k/g
ü
e		i	u
ë
i
	a			q/gh
a
o		u
u

Remember that i represents both a front [i] and a back [ɨ], and is a neutral vowel and thus this can affect vowel harmony in suffixes. For instance:

ئىشىككە

ishik-ke

door-DAT

ئىشىككە

ishik-ke

door-DAT

"to the door"

Takes the front versions of archiphonemes G and A, as the word is solely made up of [i]s, but:

كاتىپقا

katip-qa

secretary-DAT

كاتىپقا

katip-qa

secretary-DAT

"to the secretary"

Takes the back versions, as the word is phonetically [kɑtɨpqɑ], with the /i/ turning to the back vowel [ɨ], due to the /ɑ/.

A-raising

When a stem ends in unstressed a or e (as part of the archiphoneme A), and it is followed by a consonant (i.e. suffixes), this a/e is usually raised to i. When a monosyllabic stem ends in a/e, and is followed by a consonant, its a/e is usually raised to ë. This is reflected in the orthography. Other vowels do not change.

For example:

چوكا،

choka,

chopstick,

چوكىلار

choki-lar

chopsticks

چوكا، چوكىلار

choka, choki-lar

chopstick, chopsticks

Here the -a of /ˈtʃo.kɑ/ is raised to /i/ to make the plural, /ˈtʃo.ki.lɑr/. Here is an example of a monosyllabic stem changingː

ماڭ،

mang,

walk,

مېڭىۋاتىدۇ

mëng-iwat-idu

walk-CONT-3sg

ماڭ، مېڭىۋاتىدۇ

mang, mëng-iwat-idu

walk, walk-CONT-3sg

walk, s/he is walking

While the stem /mɑŋ/ is not an open syllable, as Uyghur syllable structure is onset-mandatory, when the stem takes the suffix -(I)wat- the /ŋ/ of the stem breaks off to form a syllable with the /i/ of the suffix, like soː /me.ŋi.wɑ.ti.du/ (here the [me] is not stressed). Where the a or e is stressed, the vowel does not raise, for instance with:

ئاۋاز،

awaz,

voice,

ئاۋازىم

awazim

voice-POSS.1sg

ئاۋاز، ئاۋازىم

awaz, awazim

voice, voice-POSS.1sg

voice, my voice

As the syllable is stressed, it does not raise: /ʔɑ.ˈwɑz/, /ʔɑ.ˈwɑ.zim/. Words like this with a stressed final syllable are known as strong nouns and add a y or r between their stem and first/second person personal suffixes. Monosyllabic words ending in a rounded verb always add y.

Names, unfamiliar place names, and non-nativised loan words do not change. Loan words are frequent sources of stressed open final syllables, such as the Arabic loan /dun.ˈjɑ/, from Arabic: دُنْيَا, romanized: dunyā.

Sound changes not reflected in writing

A-raising also takes place across word boundaries, but this is not reflected in writing, see:

لاتا

lata

cloth

خەج

xej

shoe

لاتا خەج

lata xej

cloth shoe

Which is pronounced /ˈlɑ.ti xɛdʒ/.

Some loan words ending in p and b change that p/b to w when a vowel-initial suffix is added to them. This is not reflected in any orthography other than Cyrillic.

The table below shows some other sound changes in words that are not reflected in writing.

Orthographic	Pronounced	Notes
-nb-	mb
-lm-	mm
-ln-	ll
-ts-	ss
-zs-
-ghq-	qq	when the dative -GA is attached to a stem ending in -gh it is orthographically written as -ghqA and pronounced as -qqa
-gh	q	only word-final
-q	x	only in some words
VkV	g
VqV	gh
ch(t/k)	sh
-b	p	only word-final
Vr(C/.)	/Vː/	this lengthens the preceding vowel
i(t/k)	/ɪ̥ʃ/(t/k)
ë in the initial syllable	i
o in a syllable before u	u
ö in a syllable before ü	ü

Pronouns

Personal pronouns

In Uyghur there is one set of personal pronouns used for the first- and third person, while there are three in the second person. The use of the three sets in the second person depends on the formality and politeness.

The personal pronouns are inflected for number and case. Follow the links of each of the personal pronouns to see them inflected.

		Singular	Plural
First person		مەن men	بىز biz
Second person	Informal	سەن sen	سەنلەر senler
	Polite	سىز siz	سىلەر siler
	Respectful	سىلى sili	-
Third person		ئۇ u	ئۇلار ular

The second person personal pronoun mostly used among people is the polite سىز, siz, while the informal سەن, sen is used between very close friends or when parents are addressing their children. The informal سەن, sen is also used when the speaker has a higher social rank than the addressed person.

The respectful سىلى, sili is used for respectfully addressing elders, grandparents or other notable persons of a community. Royalty is also addressed using سىلى, sili and sometimes even customers in stores.

The declension of the pronouns is outlined in the following chart, with some exhibiting irregularities (in bold):

Number	Singular					Plural
Person	1st	2nd			3rd	1st	2nd	3rd
		Inf.	Polite	Resp.			Polite
nominative	مەن men	سەن sen	سىز siz	سىلى sili	ئۇ u	بىز biz	سىلەر siler	ئۇلار ular
genitive	مېنىڭ mëning	سېنىڭ sëning	سىزنىڭ sizning	سىلىنىڭ silining	ئۇنىڭ uning	بىزنىڭ bizning	سىلەرنىڭ silerning	ئۇلارنىڭ ularning
dative	ماڭا ma'nga	ساڭا sa'nga	سىزگە sizge	سىلىگە silige	ئۇنىڭغا uninggha	بىزگە bizge	سىلەرگە silerge	ئۇلارغا ulargha
accusative	مېنى mëni	سېنى sëni	سىزنى sizni	سىلىنى silini	ئۇنى uni	بىزنى bizni	سىلەرنى silerni	ئۇلارنى ularni
locative	مەندە mende	سەندە sende	سىزدە sizde	سىلىدە silide	ئۇنىڭدا uningda	بىزدە bizde	سىلەردە silerde	ئۇلاردا ularda
ablative	مەندىن mendin	سەندىن sendin	سىزدىن sizdin	سىلىدىن silidin	ئۇنڭندىن uningdin	بىزدىن bizdin	سىلەردىن silerdin	ئۇلاردىن ulardin
locative- qualitative	مەندىكى mendiki	سەندىكى sendiki	سىزدىكى sizdiki	سىلىدىكى silidiki	ئۇنىڭدىكى uningdiki	بىزدىكى bizdiki	سىلەردىكى silerdiki	ئۇلاردىكى ulardiki
limitative	مەنگىچە men'giche	سەنگىچە sen'giche	سىزگىچە sizgiche	سىلىگىچە siligiche	ئۇنىڭگىچە uninggiche	بىزگىچە bizgiche	سىلەرگىچە silergiche	ئۇلارگىچە ulargiche
similitude	مەندەك mendek	سەندەك sendek	سىزدەك sizdek	سىلىدەك silidek	ئۇنىڭداك uningdak	بىزدەك bizdek	سىلەردەك silerdek	ئۇلاردەك ulardek
equivalence	مەنچىلىك menchilik	سەنچىلىك senchilik	سىزچىلىك sizchilik	سىلىچىلىك silichilik	ئۇنىڭچىلىك uningchilik	بىزچىلىك bizchilik	سىلەرچىلىك silerchilik	ئۇلارچىلىك ularchilik

Demonstrative pronouns

Uyghur has several demonstrative pronouns with some of them being used for emphasis or as intensifiers, while others have less specific uses. Common for all of the demonstrative pronouns is that their use depends on the distance between the speaker and the thing or person to which is referred.

The demonstrative pronouns are inflected for number and case, but must take the genitive case suffix -ning first before other cases (other than in the genitive and accusative case). In the table below, the demonstrative pronouns can be seen, although only in the singular. Follow the links of each of the demonstrative pronouns to see them inflected.

Meaning	Form
	Basic	Specific	Familiar	Exact Location
this	بۇ bu	ماۋۇ mawu	مۇشۇ mushu	مەشە meshe
that	ئۇ u	ئاۋۇ awu	ئاشۇ ashu	ئەشە eshe
that (distant)	شۇ shu	ئەشۇ eshu	–	–

The most common demonstrative pronouns are بۇ, bu, ئۇ, u and شۇ, shu, the first being translated as this and the remaining two as that. The first is used when referring to an object or person which is visible and close to the speaker, the second is used when referring to an object or person which is away from the speaker and the third is used when referring to a previously mentioned object or person which is not particular close to the speaker in an affirmative statement.

The two first-mentioned demonstrative persons each have an intensified derived form ending in ۋۇ, -wu, ماۋۇ, mawu and ئاۋۇ, awu, respectively. These are used when it is necessary to make it clear that the object or person the demonstrative pronoun is referring to really is the object or person which the speaker means. The two first-mentioned demonstrative persons both also have another derived form, ending in شۇ, -shu, مۇشۇ, mushu and ئاشۇ, ashu, respectively. These are often used for confirming something the speaker is already familiar with.

The examples below illustrate the use of بۇ, bu and its derived forms.

بۇ

bu

قەلەم

qelem

بۇ قەلەم

bu qelem

"This pen"

ماۋۇ

mawu

قەلەم

qelem

ماۋۇ قەلەم

mawu qelem

"This pen (and not any other pen)"

مۇشۇ

mushu

قەلەم

qelem

مۇشۇ قەلەم

mushu qelem

"This pen (which you are familiar with)"

Nouns

Nouns in Uyghur have no grammatical gender or definite marking, although the number 'one' bir can be used to mark indefiniteness. Plurals are marked by -lAr, with the vowel following the rules of vowel harmony. The plural is not used after numbers.

Cases

Uyghur has ten cases, all of which except the nominative are marked by suffixation after possible plural or possessive suffixes. Case always comes after plurals and possessive suffixes. Note that the locative-qualitative, limitative, equivalence, and similitude cases are sometimes not considered to be cases.

Declensions of nouns for cases

Case	Suffix	kün "day" +V+F	hawa "air" +V-F	chëlek "bucket" -V+F	kitab "book" -V-F
nominative	-∅	كۈن kün	ھاۋا hawa	چېاەك chëlek	كىتاب kitab
genitive	-ning	كۈننىڭ künning	ھاۋىنىڭ hawining	چېاەكنىڭ chëlekning	كىتابنىڭ kitabning
dative	-GA	كۈنگە kün'ge	ھاۋىغا hawigha	چېاەككە chëlekke	كىتابقا kitabqa
accusative	-ni	كۈننى künni	ھاۋىنى hawini	چېاەكنى chëlekni	كىتابنى kitabni
locative	-DA	كۈندە künde	ھاۋىدا hawida	چېاەكتە chëlekte	كىتابتا kitabta
ablative	-Din	كۈندىن kündin	ھاۋىدىن hawidin	چېاەكتىن chëlektin	كىتابتىن kitabtin
locative- qualitative	-Diki	كۈندىكى kündiki	ھاۋىدىكى hawidiki	چېاەكتىكى chëlektiki	كىتابتىكى kitabtiki
limitative	-Giche	كۈنگىچە kün'giche	ھاۋىغىچە hawighiche	چېاەككىچە chëlekkiche	كىتابقىچە kitabqiche
similitude	-Dek	كۈندەك kündek	ھاۋىدەك hawidek	چېاەكتەك chëlektek	كىتابتەك kitabtek
equivalence	-che/chilik	كۈنچىلىك künchilik	ھاۋىچىلىك hawichilik	چېاەكچىلىك chëlekchilik	كىتابچىلىك kitabchilik

Note that as the example word, كىتاب/kitab, has its final consonant devoiced to phonetically be /kiˈtɑp/, it uses the unvoiced variants of suffixes.

Nominative

The nominative indicates the subject; that which is predicated in the sentence. It can also indicate the target of address, and names for qualified objects. For example:

ئۇيغۇر

uyghur

Uyghur:NOM

ئوقۇغۇچى

oqughuchi

student

ئۇيغۇر ئوقۇغۇچى

uyghur oqughuchi

Uyghur:NOM student

a Ugyhur student

It can also function as a predicate, for example:

مەن

men

1sg

ئوقۇغۇچى

oqughuchi

student:NOM

مەن ئوقۇغۇچى

men oqughuchi

1sg student:NOM

I am a student

Genitive

The genitive indicates the thing that possesses, and is primarily a qualifier but can function as a predicate, for example:

بۇ

bu

that

لۇغەت

lughet

dictionary

ئەخمەتنىڭ

Exmet-ning

Akhmat-GEN

بۇ لۇغەت ئەخمەتنىڭ

bu lughet Exmet-ning

that dictionary Akhmat-GEN

that dictionary is Akhmat's

The genitive can also be pronominalised, allowing the noun it indicates as possessed to be dropped. The use of the suffix -ki after it for this is optional, unless the word it is qualifying is not in the nominative case. For example:

مېنىڭ

më-ning

1sg-GEN

لۇغەتىم

lughet-im

dictionary-POSS.1sg

ياخشى

yaxshi

good

ئەمەس،

emes,

is-not,

قاسىمنىڭ

qasim-ning

Kasim-GEN

ياخشى

yaxshi

good

مېنىڭ لۇغەتىم ياخشى ئەمەس، قاسىمنىڭ ياخشى

më-ning lughet-im yaxshi emes, qasim-ning yaxshi

1sg-GEN dictionary-POSS.1sg good is-not, Kasim-GEN good

My dictionary is no good, Kasim's is better

Not using -ki here is fine as Kasim's dictionary would also be in the nominative, but:

مېنىڭ

më-ning

1sg-GEN

ماقالەمنى

maqalem-ni

article-ACC

باسمىدى،

bas-mi-di,

print-NEG-PST.3sg,

تۇرسۇننىڭكىنى

Turnsun-ning-ki-ni

Tursun-GEN-PRN-ACC

باستى

bas-ti

print-PST.3sg

مېنىڭ ماقالەمنى باسمىدى، تۇرسۇننىڭكىنى باستى

më-ning maqalem-ni bas-mi-di, Turnsun-ning-ki-ni bas-ti

1sg-GEN article-ACC print-NEG-PST.3sg, Tursun-GEN-PRN-ACC print-PST.3sg

He didn't print my article, he printed Tursun's

As here Tursun's article would also take the accusative case, -ki must be used. Some nouns in the nominative act like genitive nouns, and require the nouns they qualify to take a possessive suffix. These are known as nouns in the nature of the possessive case, and produce closely bound noun phrases that are usually used in the place of one word. Qualifiers (i.e. adjectives) that come before the phrases qualify the entire phrase, not just the head word. For example:

ئۇزۇن

uzun

long

تارىم

tarim

Tarim:GEN

دەرياسى

derya-si

river-POSS.3sg

ئۇزۇن تارىم دەرياسى

uzun tarim derya-si

long Tarim:GEN river-POSS.3sg

the long Tarim river (not "the Tarim's long river")

Dative

Dative nouns are usually subordinate to verbs or verbal phrases and act as adverbial modifiers. They can also be adjectival modifiers. For example, the dative case can indicate the target of an action (usually preceded by "to" in English):

بىز

biz

1pl

بېيجىڭغا

Bëyjing-gha

Beijing-DAT

كەلدۇق

kel-duq

come-PST.1pl

بىز بېيجىڭغا كەلدۇق

biz Bëyjing-gha kel-duq

1pl Beijing-DAT come-PST.1pl

we came to Beijing

It can also indicate:

• The object of actions expressed by certain intransitive verbs
• The subject of verbs in the causative voice formed from transitive verbs
• The purpose of an action
• The instrument or price of certain actions

Accusative

Accusative-case nouns are subordinate to transitive verbs and indicate the object of their action, for example:

بۇ

bu

this

ئاتنى

at-ni

horse-ACC

مەن

men

1sg

مىنىمەن

min-i-men

ride-PRES.FUT-1sg

بۇ ئاتنى مەن مىنىمەن

bu at-ni men min-i-men

this horse-ACC 1sg ride-PRES.FUT-1sg

I will ride this horse

Sometimes nouns in the nominative case are the subject of transitive verbs, these are known as nouns in the nature of the accusative case and generalise the nature of the object, making its relation with the verb closer, and creating an object-verb phrase used in place of a simple verb. For example:

كىنو

kino

film

كۆرمەك

kör-mek

watch-INF

كىنو كۆرمەك

kino kör-mek

film watch-INF

to watch films

Locative

These nouns function as qualifiers (for mostly verbs, but sometimes adjectives) and signify the action's temporal or physical location. They indicate:

• The place where an action occurs.
• The time at which an action occurs, or the time for which it lasts.
• The circumstances or atmosphere in which an action occurs.
• The instrument of an action.

ئۇلار

ular

3pl

ئايىروپىلاندا

ayiropilan-da

aeroplane-LOC

كەلدى

kel-di

come-PST.3pl

ئۇلار ئايىروپىلاندا كەلدى

ular ayiropilan-da kel-di

3pl aeroplane-LOC come-PST.3pl

They came by aeroplane.

When subordinate to an adjective, they indicate the place or field of an activity.

بۈگۈن

bügün

today

مەكتەپتە

mektep-te

school-LOC

كىنو

kino

film

يوق

yoq

is.NEG

بۈگۈن مەكتەپتە كىنو يوق

bügün mektep-te kino yoq

today school-LOC film is.NEG

There is no film at school today.

When used as a predicate, they indicate the location or source of the subject.

سېنىڭ

sëning

2sg.GEN

لۇغەتىڭ

lughet-ing

dictionary-POSS.2sg

ئەخمەتتە

Exmet-te

Akhmat-LOC

سېنىڭ لۇغەتىڭ ئەخمەتتە

sëning lughet-ing Exmet-te

2sg.GEN dictionary-POSS.2sg Akhmat-LOC

Akhmat has your dictionary.

Ablative

Ablative nouns are subordinate to verbs and sometimes adjectives and adverbs, and they mostly act as adverbial modifiers. It is usually associated with the pronoun "from" in English

When acting as an adverbial modifier, they can indicate:

• The point of departure/separation of the subject/recipient, or the object that is passed through.
• Things which are mentally distanced from the subject of an action.
• The source of an action.
• The starting point of a limit connected with an action.
• The material/components of the subject/recipient.
• A generality/group from which one or some are related to the action.
• The field covered by the action.
• The reason for the action (cause).

Ablative nouns subordinate to adjectives indicate unequal comparison. Some adjectives also sometimes require the ablative case for noun modifiers, for example:

ئۇلارنىڭ

ular-ning

3pl-GEN

ئۆيى

öy-i

house-POSS.3pl

شەھەردىن

sheher-din

town-ABL

يىراق

yiraq

far

ئۇلارنىڭ ئۆيى شەھەردىن يىراق

ular-ning öy-i sheher-din yiraq

3pl-GEN house-POSS.3pl town-ABL far

their house is far away from town

Locative-qualitative

These nouns function as qualifiers (for almost any part of speech) and signify the word's temporal or physical location. The difference between this and the locative case is that the qualifier is not specific, but general/universal. For example:

تۇرسۇندىكى

Tursun-diki

Tursun-LOC

كىتاب

kitab

book

تۇرسۇندىكى كىتاب

Tursun-diki kitab

Tursun-LOC book

a book which Tursun has (lit. a book in Tursun's possession, it may or may not be his)

When context is clear, it is possible to drop the noun that the locative-qualitative case noun is qualifying and use this non-dropped noun pronominally, which also takes the cases of the dropped noun.

بۇ

bu

this

دوسكا

doska

blackboard

بىزنىڭ

biz-ning

1pl-GEN

سىنىپتىكىدىن

sinip-tiki-din

classroom-LOC-ABL

بىر

bir

one

ھەسسە

hesse

times

چوڭ

chong

big

بۇ دوسكا بىزنىڭ سىنىپتىكىدىن بىر ھەسسە چوڭ

bu doska biz-ning sinip-tiki-din bir hesse chong

this blackboard 1pl-GEN classroom-LOC-ABL one times big

this blackboard is as big again as the one in our classroom

Limitative

These nouns are subordinate to verbs and function as adverbial modifiers, and sometimes as the predicate.

When they modify verbs, they indicate the final point reached as a limit of an action, for example:

مەن

men

1sg

بۇ

bu

this

قېتىم

qëtim

occasion-POSS.1sg

خوتەنگىچە

xoten-giche

Hotan-LIM

بارىمەن

bar-i-men

go-PRES.FUT-1sg

مەن بۇ قېتىم خوتەنگىچە بارىمەن

men bu qëtim xoten-giche bar-i-men

1sg this occasion-POSS.1sg Hotan-LIM go-PRES.FUT-1sg

this time I will go as far as Hotan

When a limitative case noun acts as a predicate, it indicates the final limit of the subject.

Similitude

Nouns in the similitude case can act as qualifiers or adverbial modifiers, in both cases they liken the quality/action to their base noun. For example:

ھاۋا

hawa

weather

ئوتتەك

ot-tek

fire-SIM

قىزىپ

qizip

hot

كەتتى

ketti

turn-PST.3sg

ھاۋا ئوتتەك قىزىپ كەتتى

hawa ot-tek qizip ketti

weather fire-SIM hot turn-PST.3sg

the weather became as hot as fire

Equivalence

Nouns in the equivalence case can act as qualifiers or adverbial modifiers, in both cases they liken the quality/action to their base noun, with respect to the level/amount/measurement. For example:

ئۇمۇ

umu

3sg-also

تۇرسۇنچىلىك

tursun-chilik

Tursun-EQV

ئوقۇغان

oqu-ghan

study-PERF.PRES

ئۇمۇ تۇرسۇنچىلىك ئوقۇغان

umu tursun-chilik oqu-ghan

3sg-also Tursun-EQV study-PERF.PRES

he's also studied to the same level as Tursun

Possessive Suffixes

Uyghur, like Uzbek, has possessive suffixes that indicate person.

Possessor number	Singular	Plural
1st	-م، -ىم، -ۇم، -ۈم -(I)m	-مىز، -ىمىز -(i)miz
2nd Informal	-ڭ، -ىڭ، -ۇڭ، -ۈڭ -(I)ng	-ڭلار، -ىڭلار، -ۇڭلار، -ۈڭلار -(I)nglar
2nd Polite	-ڭىز، -ىڭىز -(i)ngiz	n/a
2nd Respectful	-لىرى -liri
3rd	-سى، -ى -(s)i

Monosyllabic nouns ending in rounded vowels (i.e. su) will add a y before first and second person suffixes (i.e. suyum, suyingiz but susi).

Noun-formation affixes

Uyghur has a wide variety of affixes which form words from others. This section will go over noun-formation affixes.

Affixes which derive nouns from nouns

Suffix	Description	Example	Translation
-chi	Indicates those engaged in the action or occupation indicated by the noun.	tömür-chi	blacksmith
	Indicates those who belong to a school of thought, organisation, etc. indicated by the noun.	marksizm-chi	Marxist
-dash	Indicates people who possess an identity or commonality with things indicated by the noun.	sinip-dash	schoolmate
-lIK	Indicates the occupation in which a noun indicating a person engaged in work is engaged in.	tömürchi-lik	blacksmithing
	Indicates a place with many plants/substances if the noun indicates a plant/substance.	qarighay-lik	pine forest
	Indicates a characteristic unique to a certain kind of person when attached to a person-indicating noun.	bali-liq	childishness
	Indicates a thing useful for the thing expressed by the noun.	kün-lük	umbrella
	Indicates a person who was born/grew up in a place, when attached to a place noun.	Qeshqer-lik	a Kashgarite
-chiliK	Indicates a relationship based on the concept expressed by the base noun.	shirik-chilik	partnership
-che	Indicates the language/script of a nationality when attached to a nationality noun.	Türk-che	Turkish (language)
	Common diminutive.	kitab-che	booklet
-xana	Indicates places where the base noun is kept/are associated with the base noun.	kitab-xana	bookshop
-shunas	Indicates experts who carry out research on the base noun.	til-shunas	linguist
-zar	Indicates a place where many plants of the base noun type are grown.	gül-zar	flowerbed
-dan	Indicates vessels into which the base noun is put.	su-dan	water bottle
-name	Indicates letters/documents/books about the base noun, or matters concerning it.	jeng-name	war story
-iye	Indicates the territory inhabited by a nation.	Türk-iye	Turkey (country)
-istan	Indicates the territory inhabited by a nation, or a place where many of the base noun exist.	gül-istan	flowerbed or garden
-w/baz	Indicates a person devoted to the base noun.	qimar-waz	gambler
-xor	A person who eats/drink the base noun (potentially to excess).	chay-xor	tea addict
-kar	Experts who produce the base noun.	paxti-kar	cotton grower
	One who assumes the object indicated by the base noun.	gunah-kar	sinner
	The owner of the base noun.	telep-kar	demanding person
-dar	The person who possesses the base noun.	zëmin-dar	landlord
-pez	Person who cooks food expressed by the base noun.	samsi-pez	Samsa chef
-k/ger	Person whose job it is produce something from or engage in the base noun.	mis-ker	coppersmith
-kesh	Someone who is engaged in an activity connected with or bears the base noun.	mëhnet-kesh	labourer
-w/ben	Someone who looks after or manages the base noun.	derwazi-wen	doorkeeper
-purush	Someone who sells the base noun.	kitab-purush	bookseller
-xan	Someone who reads the base noun.	Dua-xan	prayer reader
-gah	The place of activity connected to the base noun.	jeng-gah	battlefield
hem-	A person who shares in the whole of the base noun.	hem-tawaq	fellow diner
-DUrUK	An article related to the base noun.	boyun-turuq	horse/ox yoke
-darchiliq	The state of people in a relationship expressed by the base noun.	qoshni-darchiliq	neighbourliness
-gerchilik	A characteristic specific to people indicated by the base noun.	adem-gerchilik	humaneness
-izm	A belief, way, or principle related to the base noun.	dëmokrat-izm	democracy
-chU/AK	Nouns that indicate a small thing related to the base noun.	yem-chük	fish bait.

Affixes which derive nouns from adjectives

Suffix	Description	Example	Translation
-lIK	Indicates the name of the quality indicated by the adjective.	sezgür-lük	sensitivity
-chiliK	indicates the quality + state/situation/universality indicated by the adjective.	qurghaq-chiliq	dryness

Affixes which derive nouns from verbs

Suffix	Description	Example	Translation
-GU/A	Indicates the means of the action expressed by the verb.	külke	smile/laughter
-GUchi	Indicates someone engaged in the action expressed by the verb.	yaz-guchi	writer
-(I)sh	Indicates the name of the action expressed by the verb.	ögin-ish	study
-mAK	Indicates the result/means of the action expressed by the verb.	tëpish-maq	riddle
-GUch	Indicates the means of the action expressed by the verb.	siz-guch	ruler, straight edge
-mA	Indicates the result/means of the action expressed by the verb.	qolyaz-ma	draft, manuscript
-(I)m	Indicates the result of the action expressed by the verb.	böl-üm	chapter, part
-G[i/ü]n	Indicates the result of the action expressed by the verb.	kel-kün	flood
-(A/U)K	Indicates the result/means/place of the action expressed by the verb.	sina-q	experiment/test
-(i/ü)n	Indicates the result of the action expressed by the verb.	yëgh-in	rainfall
-(I)ndi	Indicates the result of the action expressed by the verb.	yigh-indi	collection
-duq	Indicates the result of the action expressed by the verb.	qal-duq	dregs/remainder
-mIsh	Indicates the result/object of the action expressed by the verb.	öt-müsh	the past
-GEK	Indicates an object possessing a feature inclined towards the action of the verb.	chaq-qaq	nettke
-(i)nchA	Indicates the means of the action expressed by the verb.	sël-incha	cushion
-mchi	Indicates the subject of the action expressed by the verb.	bashla-mchi	guide, pioneer
-GUlUK	Indicates the abstract object of the action expressed by the verb.	kör-gülük	suffering

Adjectives

Adjectives in Uyghur can often be used as adverbial modifiers, and indicate the quality of an object or action.

Most adjectives can have their degree modified, and these are known as "gradable" adjectives. However, it is impossible to strengthen or weaken some adjectives (i.e. ئەركەك, erkek, 'male'), which are known as "non-gradable" adjectives.

Degree

There are a variety of ways to indicate degree when it comes to gradable adjectives.

Degree affixes

Name	Affix	Description	Example	Translation
Positive degree	none	The original form of the adjective, indicates the normal degree of the quality expressed by the adjective.	كىچىك kichik	small
Decreasing degree	-rAK	Indicates a slight weakening of the quality and can indicate a softer tone.	كىچىكرەك kichik-rek	a bit small
Emphatic degree	first syllable+p-	Indicates a strengthening of the quality, or the speaker's feeling. Less productive than the decreasing degree. Formed using a prefix that takes the first syllable and adds p to its constituent vowel.	كىپكىچىك kip-kichik	extremely small
Endearing degree	-GinA	Expresses that the speaker is indicating the quality with a tone of endearment/fondness/intensification. Very unproductive.	كىچىككىنە kichik-kine	delightfully small

Reduplication

This is known as "the repeated form" and emphasises that the quality is unique to a large number of things of the same type, or that the action possessing the quality indicated by the adjective is repeated many times.

ئەزالار

eza-lar

member-PL

پىلاننى

pilan-ni

plan-ACC

ئەمەلگە

emelge

implement

ئاشۇرۇشنىڭ

ashurush-ning

something-GEN

يېڭى-يېڭى

yëngi-yëngi

new-REDUP

چارە-تەدبىرلىرى

chare-tedbir-lir-i

remedy-means-PL-POSS.3sg

ئۈستىدە

üstide

over

ئويلىنىۋاتىدۇ

oylin-iwat-idu

contemplate-CONT-PRES.3pl

ئەزالار پىلاننى ئەمەلگە ئاشۇرۇشنىڭ يېڭى-يېڭى چارە-تەدبىرلىرى ئۈستىدە ئويلىنىۋاتىدۇ

eza-lar pilan-ni emelge ashurush-ning yëngi-yëngi chare-tedbir-lir-i üstide oylin-iwat-idu

member-PL plan-ACC implement something-GEN new-REDUP remedy-means-PL-POSS.3sg over contemplate-CONT-PRES.3pl

"the members are considering many new ways of implementing the plan"

Nominalisation

Some adjectives can be directly turned into nouns, for example:

سوغۇق

soghuq

cold

چۈشكىچە

chüshkiche

noon-LIM

ئىشلارنى

ish-lar-ni

job-PL-ACC

تۈگىتىۋالايلى

tügi-t-iwal-ay-li

complete-DV.SBJ-IMP.2pl

سوغۇق چۈشكىچە ئىشلارنى تۈگىتىۋالايلى

soghuq chüshkiche ish-lar-ni tügi-t-iwal-ay-li

cold noon-LIM job-PL-ACC complete-DV.SBJ-IMP.2pl

"before the cold comes let's try and finish the jobs"

They can also function as nouns when the noun is dropped, indicating objects with the quality they have.

Adjective-formation suffixes

Affixes that derive adjectives from nouns

Suffix	Description	Example	Translation
-lIK	Implies the existence/abundance of the base noun.	su-luq	juicy, watered
	Indicates a characteristic specific to the base noun.	marksizm-liq	Marxist
	Indicates a characteristic related to the time expressed by a time noun.	etigen-lik (uyqu)	midday (nap)
	Indicates a characteristic giving rise to the base noun.	qayghu-luq (jewer)	sad (news)
	Indicates the notion of "at the level of the district/region expressed by the noun"	ölki-lik (hökümet)	provincial (government)
	Indicates a special feature characterised by riding on the base noun (animal/vehicle)	at-liq	on horseback
-siz	Implies a lack of/extremely small amount of the base noun.	su-siz	dry
-chan	Indicates a characteristic that tends towards an action related to the base noun.	söz-chan	talkative
	Implies that the base noun (if clothing) is being worn.	könglek-chan	in a shirt
-chi	Indicates a characteristic that tends towards the base noun.	chataq-chi	trouble-making
-chil	Indicates a characteristic that tends towards the base noun.	inqilab-chil	pro-revolutionary
-siman	Indicates a similarity to the base noun.	adem-siman	humanoid
-iy/wi	Indicates a trait characterised by the base noun.	din-iy	religious
-peres	Indicates the characteristic of pursuing or worshipping the base noun.	emel-peres	power-hungry
-perwer	Indicates the characteristic of loving the base noun.	weten-perwer	patriotic
bi-	Implies the absence of the base noun.	bi-haya	shameless
na-	Implies the absence of the base noun.	na-ümid	hopeless
bet-	Indicates poor quality/vulgar according to the base noun.	bet-tem	tasteless

Affixes that derive adjectives from verbs and adverbs

Suffix	Description	Example	Translation
-(I)K	Implies that the quality has been produced as a result of the verb.	sun-uq	broken
-mA	Implies that the quality has been produced as a result of the verb or is appropriate to its action.	pükli-me	folding
-GEK	Indicates a characteristic tending towards the action of the verb.	urush-qaq	combative
-chAK	Indicates a characteristic tending towards the action of the verb.	maxtan-chaq	boastful
-(A)ngGU	Indicates a characteristic tending towards the action of the verb.	chëchil-ang'ghu	disorderly
-GUr	Indicates a characteristic tending towards the action of the verb.	uch-qur	fast
-lIK	Indicates a characteristic applicable or related to the action of the verb. Only attached to verbal nouns ending in -sh	yë-yish-lik	delicious
-GIn	Indicates a characteristic that has/will carry out the action of the verb.	tut-qun	arrested
-Ki	When used with adverbs of time or position, this implies the time or position of the adverb.	bügün-ki	today's

Copulas

Like most Turkic languages, copulas are important to verbs, and some are words that have become fixed in a single form ("incomplete copulas", some of which are suffixes), although "complete copulas", which are entirely separate words, do exist.

Null copula

In the present tense, it is not essential to use a copula, for example:

بۇ

bu

this

كىتاب

kitab

book

بۇ كىتاب

bu kitab

this book

"This is a book."

Mood-tense copulas

Uyghur mood-tense copulas

Mood	Direct judgement		Indirect judgement	Hearsay		Subjective assessment		Objective assessment
Tense	Present	Past	Present/Past	Present	Past	Present	Past	Present/Past
1sg	-men	idim	ikenmen	-dekmen	ikenmishmen	-durmen	bolghiydim	bolsam kërek
1pl	-miz	iduq	ikenmiz	-dekmiz	ikenmishmiz	-durmiz	bolghiyduq	bolsaq kërek
2sg informal	-sen	iding	ikensen	-deksen	ikenmishsen	-dursen	bolghiyding	bolsang kërek
2sg polite	-siz	idingiz	ikensiz	-deksiz	ikenmishsiz	-dursiz	bolghiydingiz	bolsingiz kërek
2sg respectful	-la	idile	ikenla	-dekla	ikenmishla	-durla	bolghiydile	bolsila kërek
2pl	-siler	idinglar	ikensiler	-deksiler	ikenmishsiler	-dursiler	bolghiydinglar	bolsanglar kërek
3sg/pl	-Dur	idi	iken	-deng	ikenmish	-dur	bolghiydi	bolsa kërek

These copulas can differ between regions, the forms given in the table are those used in Northern Xinjiang.

Negative judgement copula

The negative copula, emes, does not inflect for person or tense. For example:

بۇ

bu

this

كىتاب

kitab

book

ئەمەس

emes

NEG

بۇ كىتاب ئەمەس

bu kitab emes

this book NEG

"This is not a book."

Verbs

Verbs in Uyghur inflect in a variety of ways, such as for tense, aspect, and mood.

Infinitives

There are two infinitival suffixes in Uyghur, -(I)sh and -mAK. -(I)sh is used in most situations where the infinitive and gerund is used in English, primarily when discussing an action as a noun, as such -(I)sh is often accompanied by the accusative -ni. For example:

بىز

biz

1pl

ئۇيغۇرچە

Uyghurche

Uyghur

ئۆگىنىشنى

ögin-ish-ni

study-INF-ACC

ياخشى

yaxshi

good

كۆرىمىز

kör-i-miz

look-PRES.FUT-1pl

بىز ئۇيغۇرچە ئۆگىنىشنى ياخشى كۆرىمىز

biz Uyghurche ögin-ish-ni yaxshi kör-i-miz

1pl Uyghur study-INF-ACC good look-PRES.FUT-1pl

"We like to study Uyghur"

ئوقۇش

oq-ush

read-INF

تەس

tes

difficult

ئەمەس

emes

is-NEG

ئوقۇش تەس ئەمەس

oq-ush tes emes

read-INF difficult is-NEG

"reading is not difficult" (lit. to read is not difficult)

Person

While some tenses inflect for person, some such as the future-present tense simply go between the stem and the following personal suffixes.

Uyghur verb personal suffixes

Person	Singular	Plural
1st	-men	-miz
2nd Informal	-sen	-siler
2nd Polite	-siz	-la
3rd	-du

These are by far the most common suffixes, and are known as "type 1" suffixes. The possessive markers are also used with some tenses, and in this context are known as "type 2".

Uyghur verb personal suffixes, -di variant

Person	Singular	Plural
1st	-DIm	-Duq
2nd Informal	-DIng	-DInglar
2nd Polite	-Dingiz	-Dila
3rd	-Di

State-Tense

Tömür describes Uyghur as having four states and three tenses, with all of the states being able to take past and present tenses, thus producing nine state-tenses for verbs. Some of these have multiple variants.

The archiphoneme Y here is y after vowels, i after consonants, and yi if the verb is "yu". The archiphoneme K is much like G but is always voiceless.

Uyghur state-tense suffixes (direct statement mood)

State	n/a	Perfect		Imperfect			Continuous		Intention
Tense	Simple Past	Present	Past	Present	Past		Present	Past	Present	Past
Construction	-D+type 2	-GAn(+type 1)	-GAnid+type 2	-Y+type 1	-Att+type 2	-Arid+type 2	-mAKtA+type 1	-mAKtA+ id+type 2	-mAKchi(+type 1)	-mAKchid+type 2
1sg	-DIm	-GAnmen	-GAnidim	-Ymen	-Attim	-Aridim	-mAKtimen	-mAKta idim	-mAKchimen	-mAKchidim
1pl	-duq	-GAnmiz	-GAniduq	-Ymiz	-Attuq	-Ariduq	-mAKtimiz	-mAKta iduq	-mAKchimiz	-mAKchiduq
2sg informal	-DIng	-GAnsen	-GAniding	-Ysen	-Atting	-Ariding	-mAKtisen	-mAKta iding	-mAKchisen	-mAKchiding
2sg polite	-DIngiz	-GAnsiz	-GAnidingiz	-Ysiz	-Attingiz	-Aridingiz	-mAKtisiz	-mAKta idingiz	-mAKchisiz	-mAKchidingiz
2pl informal	-DInglar	-GAnsiler	-GAnidinglar	-Ysiler	-Attinglar	-Aridinglar	-mAKtisiler	-mAKta idinglar	-mAKchisiler	-mAKchidinglar
2pl polite	-DingizlAr		-GAnidile	-Yla	-Attila	-Aridile			-mAKchila
3sg/3pl	-Di	-GAndu	-GAnidi	-Ydu	-Atti	-Aridi	-mAKta	-mAKta idi	-mAKchi	-mAKchidi

Simple past tense

The simple past tense always indicates that the action or state expressed by the verb took place before the time of speaking, no matter the mood of the verb.

ئەخمەت

Exmet

Akhmat

ماقالە

maqale

article

يازدى

yaz-di

write-PST.3sg

ئەخمەت ماقالە يازدى

Exmet maqale yaz-di

Akhmat article write-PST.3sg

"Akhmat wrote an article"

It can also be used in some special senses to indicate that the action will take place immediately, show an absolute determination to carry out the action, or indicate the sense of hypothesis.

مەن

men

1sg

ماڭدىم

mang-dim

walk-PST.1sg

مەن ماڭدىم

men mang-dim

1sg walk-PST.1sg

"I'm leaving (right now)" lit. I've left

Present perfect tense

The present perfect tense indicates the current existence of the state which the action has brought about. It differs from the simple past tense in requiring the action to be completed to a degree that it has changed the state of the object.

بۇ

Bu

this

ماقالىنى

maqali-ni

essay-ACC

ئەخمەت

Exmet

Akhmat

يازغان

yaz-ghan

write-PERF.3sg

بۇ ماقالىنى ئەخمەت يازغان

Bu maqali-ni Exmet yaz-ghan

this essay-ACC Akhmat write-PERF.3sg

"Akhmat has written this essay"

Past perfect tense

The past perfect tense indicates the existence of the state which the action has brought about before another related matter, or at a specific point in the past.

خەت

xet

letter

يازغانىدىم

yaz-ghanidim

write-PERF.PST.1sg

ئۇزاق

uzaq

not

ئۆتمەي

ötmey

long

جاۋاپ

jawap

reply

كەلدى

kel-di

arrive-PST.3sg

خەت يازغانىدىم ئۇزاق ئۆتمەي جاۋاپ كەلدى

xet yaz-ghanidim uzaq ötmey jawap kel-di

letter write-PERF.PST.1sg not long reply arrive-PST.3sg

"the reply came not long after I had written the letter"

Present imperfect tense

The present imperfect tense indicates the present existence the state of an action that regularly/always occurs, or will occur later. This includes actions such as:

• Actions that always happen according to objective laws and logic
• Actions that express temperament/habits
• Actions which express character, special skills, etc
• Actions which indicate a job or daily activity
• Actions which always happen according to rule
• Actions that definitely will happen according to logic, or have been decided will happen.
• Actions which indicate determination or which the speaker considers will happen.

كۈن

kün

sun

شەرقتىن

sherq-tin

east-ABL

چىقىدۇ

chiq-idu

rise-IMPERF.3sg

كۈن شەرقتىن چىقىدۇ

kün sherq-tin chiq-idu

sun east-ABL rise-IMPERF.3sg

"The sun rises from the east"

Past imperfect tense

The present imperfect tense indicates the existence the state of an action that regularly/always occurs, or will occur later, at some point in the past or before a related matter. This includes actions such as:

• An action/matter that happened continuously in the past, i.e. "used to teach"
• An intention, plan, or agreement about carrying out an action before a certain matter.
• A conjecture about an action that has not taken place, or will definitely not take place.
• When a writer is talking about things that were happening before or at the time of the event.

مەن

men

1sg

ئۈرۈمچىگە

Ürümchi-ge

Urumqi-DAT

باراتتىم

bar-attim

go-IMPERF.PST.1sg

مەن ئۈرۈمچىگە باراتتىم

men Ürümchi-ge bar-attim

1sg Urumqi-DAT go-IMPERF.PST.1sg

"I had planned to go to Urumqi" (note that this is an example of the second variety)

Present continuous tense

The present continuous tense indicates the present existence of a continuously ongoing or fixed state of an action.

مەن

men

1sg

ماقالە

maqale

essay

يازماقتىمەن

yaz-maqtimen

write-CONT.1sg

مەن ماقالە يازماقتىمەن

men maqale yaz-maqtimen

1sg essay write-CONT.1sg

"I am writing an essay"

Past continuous tense

The present continuous tense indicates the existence of a continuously ongoing or fixed state of an action at a previous time or before a certain matter.

مەن

men

1sg

ماقالە

maqale

essay

يازماقتا

yaz-maqta

write-CONT

ئىدىم

idim

PST.1sg

مەن ماقالە يازماقتا ئىدىم

men maqale yaz-maqta idim

1sg essay write-CONT PST.1sg

"I was writing an essay"

Present intention tense

The present intention tense indicates the present existence of an action that has been intended or agreed upon.

ئۇ

u

3sg

سىزگە

siz-ge

2sg-DAT

بىرنەرسە

birnerse

something

بەرمەكچى

ber-mekchi

give-INTENT.3sg

ئۇ سىزگە بىرنەرسە بەرمەكچى

u siz-ge birnerse ber-mekchi

3sg 2sg-DAT something give-INTENT.3sg

"He wants to give you something"

Past intention tense

The present intention tense indicates the existence of an action that has been intended or agreed upon, before a certain matter.

مەن

men

1sg

ئۈرۈمچىگە

Ürümchi-ge

Urumqi-DAT

بارماقچىدىم

bar-maqchidim

go-INTENT.PST.1sg

مەن ئۈرۈمچىگە بارماقچىدىم

men Ürümchi-ge bar-maqchidim

1sg Urumqi-DAT go-INTENT.PST.1sg

"I had planned to go to Urumqi"

Mood

These verb endings can differ between regions, the forms given in the table are those used in Kashgar.

Direct statement mood

The direct statement mood indicates that the subject matter is something the speaker knows first-hand. It is the most common mood.

Indirect statement mood

The indirect statement mood indicates that the subject matter is something the speaker knows indirectly (has learned of recently from facts/information given by others). Most often translated with the English word "apparently".

بۇ

bu

this

بىنالار

bina-lar

building-PL

1950-يىلى

1950-yili

1950-year

سېلىنغانىكەن

sëlin-ghaniken

built-INDIR.PERF.PST.3sg

بۇ بىنالار 1950-يىلى سېلىنغانىكەن

bu bina-lar 1950-yili sëlin-ghaniken

this building-PL 1950-year built-INDIR.PERF.PST.3sg

"Apparently, these buildings were built in 1950."

Uyghur state-tense suffixes (indirect statement mood)

State	n/a	Perfect		Imperfect		Continuous		Intention
Tense	Simple Past	Present	Past	Present	Past	Present	Past	Present	Past
Construction	-Ip(ti)+type 1	-Iptiken+type 1	-GAniken+type 1	-Ydiken+type 1	-Ydiken+type 1	-Ip tUrUpti+type 1	-(I)watidiken+type 1	-mAKchiken+type 1	-mAKchiken+type 1
1sg	-Iptimen	-Iptikenmen	-GAnikenmen	-Ydikenmen	-Ydikenmen	-Ip tUrUptimen	-(I)watidikenmen	-mAKchikenmen	-mAKchikenmen
1pl	-Iptimiz	-Iptikenmiz	-GAnikenmiz	-Ydikenmiz	-Ydikenmiz	-Ip tUrUptimiz	-(I)watidikenmiz	-mAKchikenmiz	-mAKchikenmiz
2sg informal	-Ipsen	-Iptikensen	-GAnikensen	-Ydikensen	-Ydikensen	-Ip tUrUptisen	-(I)watidikensen	-mAKchikensen	-mAKchikensen
2sg polite	-Ipsiz	-Iptikensiz	-GAnikensiz	-Ydikensiz	-Ydikensiz	-Ip tUrUptisiz	-(I)watidikensiz	-mAKchikensiz	-mAKchikensiz
2pl informal	-Ipsiler	-Iptikensiler	-GAnikensiler	-Ydikensiler	-Ydikensiler	-Ip tUrUptisiler	-(I)watidikensiler	-mAKchikensiler	-mAKchikensiler
2pl polite	-Iptila	-Iptikenla	-GAnikenla	-Ydikenla	-Ydikenla	-Ip tUrUptila	-(I)watidikenla	-mAKchikenla	-mAKchikenla
3sg/3pl	-Iptu	-Iptiken	-GAniken	-Ydiken	-Ydiken	-Ip tUrUptu	-(I)watidiken	-mAKchiken	-mAKchiken(duq)

Hearsay mood

The hearsay mood indicates that the subject matter is something the speaker has heard of from others. Mostly translated with "they say that", "SUBJ has heard that", or "supposedly".

بۇ

bu

this

ماقالىنى

maqali-ni

letter-ACC

ئەخمەت

Exmet

Akhmat

يېزىپتۇدەك

yëz-iptudek

write-HEARSAY.PST.3sg

بۇ ماقالىنى ئەخمەت يېزىپتۇدەك

bu maqali-ni Exmet yëz-iptudek

this letter-ACC Akhmat write-HEARSAY.PST.3sg

"they say Akhmat wrote this letter"

It can also be used for:

• Describing dreams
• Talking in a sarcastic manner

Uyghur state-tense suffixes (hearsay mood)

State	n/a		Perfect		Imperfect		Continuous		Intention
Tense	Simple Past		Present	Past	Present	Past	Present	Past	Present	Past
Construction	-Iptimish+type 1	-Iptudek+type 1	-GAnmish+type 1	-GAnikenmish+type 1	-GUdek+type 1	-Ydikenmish+type 1	-(I)watarmish+type 1	-(I)watidikenmish+type 1	-mAKchidek+type 1	-mAKchiken+type 1+mish
1sg	-Iptimishmen	-Iptudekmen	-GAnmishmen	-GAnikenmishmen	-GUdekmen	-Ydikenmishmen	-(I)watarmishmen	-(I)watidikenmishmen	-mAKchidekmen	-mAKchikenmenmish
1pl	-Iptimishmiz	-Iptudekmiz	-GAnmishmiz	-GAnikenmishmiz	-GUdekmiz	-Ydikenmishmiz	-(I)watarmishmiz	-(I)watidikenmishmiz	-mAKchidekmiz	-mAKchikenmizmish
2sg informal	-Iptimishsen	-Iptudeksen	-GAnmishsen	-GAnikenmishsen	-GUdeksen	-Ydikenmishsen	-(I)watarmishsen	-(I)watidikenmishsen	-mAKchideksen	-mAKchikensenmish
2sg polite	-Iptimishsiz	-Iptudeksiz	-GAnmishsiz	-GAnikenmishsiz	-GUdeksiz	-Ydikenmishsiz	-(I)watarmishsiz	-(I)watidikenmishsiz	-mAKchideksiz	-mAKchikensizmish
2pl informal	-Iptimishsiler	-Iptudeksiler	-GAnmishsiler	-GAnikenmishsiler	-GUdeksiler	-Ydikenmishsiler	-(I)watarmishsiler	-(I)watidikenmishsiler	-mAKchideksiler	-mAKchikensilermish
2pl polite	-Iptimishla	-Iptudekla	-GAnmishla	-GAnikenmishla	-GUdekla	-Ydikenmishla	-(I)watarmishla	-(I)watidikenmishla	-mAKchidekla	-mAKchikenlamish
3sg/3pl	-Iptimish	-Iptudek	-GAnmish	-GAnikenmish	-GUdek	-Ydikenmish	-(I)watarmish	-(I)watidikenmish	-mAKchideng	-mAKchikenmish

Subjective assessment mood

The subjective assessment mood indicates that the subject matter is something that has been assessed in a subjective manner. Usually translated with "think", "guess", or "believe".

سىز

siz

2sg

تاماكا

tamaka

tobacco

چېكىسىزغۇ

chëki-siz-ghu

smoke-2sg-IMPERF.PRES

دەيمەن

deymen

SUBJASS

سىز تاماكا چېكىسىزغۇ دەيمەن

siz tamaka chëki-siz-ghu deymen

2sg tobacco smoke-2sg-IMPERF.PRES SUBJASS

"I think that you smoke"

Uyghur state-tense suffixes (subjective assessment mood)

State	n/a	Perfect		Imperfect		Continuous		Intention
Tense	Simple Past	Present	Past	Present	Past	Present	Past	Present	Past
Construction	-GAn(di)+type 1	-GAn(type 1)ghu deymen	-GAn bolghiy+type 2	-type 1+ghu deymen	-idighan bolghiy+type2	-(I)watqan(di)+type 1	-(I)watqan bolghiy+type 2	-mAKchi+type 1+ghu deymen	-mAKchi bolghiyd+type 2
1sg	-GAndimen	-GAnghu deymen	-GAn bolghiydim	-menghu deymen	-idighan bolghiydim	-(I)watqandimen	-(I)watqan bolghiydim	-mAKchimenghu deymen	-mAKchi bolghiydim
1pl	-GAndimiz	-GAnghu deymen	-GAn bolghiyduq	-mizghu deymen	-idighan bolghiyduq	-(I)watqandimiz	-(I)watqan bolghiyduq	-mAKchimizghu deymen	-mAKchi bolghiyduq
2sg informal	-GAnsen	-GAnghu deymen	-GAn bolghiyding	-senghu deymen	-idighan bolghiyding	-(I)watqansen	-(I)watqan bolghiyding	-mAKchisenghu deymen	-mAKchi bolghiyding
2sg polite	-GAnsiz	-GAnghu deymen	-GAn bolghiydingiz	-sizghu deymen	-idighan bolghiydingiz	-(I)watqansiz	-(I)watqan bolghiydingiz	-mAKchisizghu deymen	-mAKchi bolghiydingiz
2pl informal	-GAnsiler	-GAnghu deymen	-GAn bolghiydile	-silerghu deymen	-idighan bolghiydile	-(I)watqansiler	-(I)watqan bolghiydile	-mAKchisilerghu deymen	-mAKchi bolghiydile
2pl polite	-ishqanla	-GAnghu deymen	-GAn bolghiydinglar	-laghu deymen	-idighan bolghiydinglar	-(I)watqanla	-(I)watqan bolghiydinglar	-mAKchilaghu deymen	-mAKchi bolghiydinglar
3sg/3pl	-GAndu	-GAnghu deymen	-GAn bolghiydi	-idghu deymen	-idighan bolghiydi	-(I)watqandu	-(I)watqan bolghiydi	-mAKchighu deymen	-mAKchi bolghiydi

Objective assessment mood

The objective assessment mood indicates that the subject matter is something that has been assessed according to certain facts, and it is usually translated with "looks as", "seems", "must have", etc. It does not inflect for tense, only for state.

سىز

siz

2sg

تاماكا

tamaka

tobacco

چېكىدىغان

chëk-idighan

smoke-IMPERF

ئوخشايسىز

oxshay-siz

OBJASS-2sg

سىز تاماكا چېكىدىغان ئوخشايسىز

siz tamaka chëk-idighan oxshay-siz

2sg tobacco smoke-IMPERF OBJASS-2sg

"it seems as if you smoke"

Uyghur state-tense suffixes (objective assessment mood)

State	n/a	Perfect	Imperfect	Continuous	Intention
Tense	Simple Past	Present/Past	Present/Past	Present/Past	Present/Past
Construction	-GAn oxshay+type 1	-GAn oxshay+type 1	-idighan oxshay+type 1	-(I)watqan oxshay+type 1	-mAKchi oxshay+type 1
1sg	-GAn oxshaymen	-GAn oxshaymen	-idighan oxshaymen	-(I)watqan oxshaymen	-mAKchi oxshaymen
1pl	-GAn oxshaymiz	-GAn oxshaymiz	-idighan oxshaymiz	-(I)watqan oxshaymiz	-mAKchi oxshaymiz
2sg informal	-GAn oxshaysen	-GAn oxshaysen	-idighan oxshaysen	-(I)watqan oxshaysen	-mAKchi oxshaysen
2sg polite	-GAn oxshaysiz	-GAn oxshaysiz	-idighan oxshaysiz	-(I)watqan oxshaysiz	-mAKchi oxshaysiz
2pl informal	-GAn oxshaysiler	-GAn oxshaysiler	-idighan oxshaysiler	-(I)watqan oxshaysiler	-mAKchi oxshaysiler
2pl polite	-GAn oxshayla	-GAn oxshayla	-idighan oxshayla	-(I)watqan oxshayla	-mAKchi oxshayla
3sg/3pl	-GAn oxshaydu	-GAn oxshaydu	-idighan oxshaydu	-(I)watqan oxshaydu	-mAKchi oxshaydu

Imperative (command-request) mood

The imperative mood, and all following moods, do not inflect based on state-tense.

The objective assessment mood indicates that the subject matter of the sentence is spoken in a matter that denotes:

• Requesting
• Instructing/ordering
• Complying
• Appealing
• Wishing

سىز

siz

2sg

بېرىڭ

bër-ing

go-IMP.2sg

سىز بېرىڭ

siz bër-ing

2sg go-IMP.2sg

"you can go"

It may also indicate that the listener is being requested to wait until the subject matter has finished/ceased. The suffix -Gin can also be attached to the end of the verb to give an affectionate mood to the command/request.

Uyghur imperative mood suffixes

1sg	-(A)y
1pl	-(A)yli
2sg informal	∅
2sg polite	-(I)ng
2pl informal	-(I)nglar
2pl polite	-(I)shsilA
3sg/3pl	-sun

Hypothesis-objection (conditional) mood

The hypothesis-objection mood can indicate either a hypothetical mood to the subject matter of the sentence, like below:

تىرىشساڭ،

tirish-sang,

strive-COND.2sg,

ئالغا

algha

progress

باسىسەن

bas-isen

make-IMPERF.PRES.2sg

تىرىشساڭ، ئالغا باسىسەن

tirish-sang, algha bas-isen

strive-COND.2sg, progress make-IMPERF.PRES.2sg

"if you try hard, you will make progress"

or it can indicate that the subject matter is spoken in opposition to another, as below:

بارساق

bar-saq,

go-COND.1pl,

ئۆيىدە

öyi-de

home-LOC

يوق

yoq

NEG

ئىكەن

iken

INDIR.3sg

بارساق ئۆيىدە يوق ئىكەن

bar-saq, öyi-de yoq iken

go-COND.1pl, home-LOC NEG INDIR.3sg

"we went, but it seemed he wasn't at home"

Uyghur conditional mood suffixes

1sg	-sAm
1pl	-sAK
2sg informal	-sAng
2sg polite	-singiz
2pl informal	-sAnglar
2pl polite	-(I)shsilA
3sg/3pl	-sA

Hope-polite request mood

This is formed by attaching the -iken auxiliary to the verb's hypothesis-objection mood form. The auxiliary may sometimes be omitted.

It indicates that the subject matter of the sentence is spoken in the manner of a petition, desire, or polite request.

ماڭا

manga

1sg-DAT

ئىككى

ikki

two

كۈنلۈك

künlük

day

رۇخسەت

ruxset

permission

بېرىلسىكەن

bëril-siken

give-HOPE.3sg

ماڭا ئىككى كۈنلۈك رۇخسەت بېرىلسىكەن

manga ikki künlük ruxset bëril-siken

1sg-DAT two day permission give-HOPE.3sg

"please could I be given two days' leave"

Uyghur hope-polite request mood suffixes

1sg	-sAmiken
1pl	-sAKiken
2sg informal	-sAngiken
2sg polite	-singiziken
2pl informal	-sAnglariken
2pl polite	-(I)shsiliken
3sg/3pl	-siken

Wish mood

This is formed by attaching the past tense direct judgement copula to the verb's hypothesis-objection mood form. The copula may sometimes be omitted.

1sg	-sAmidim
1pl	-sAKiduq
2sg informal	-sAngiding
2sg polite	-singizidingiz
2pl informal	-sAnglaridile
2pl polite	-(I)shsilAidinglar
3sg/3pl	-sAidi

Regret mood

1sg	-sAmchu	-sAm boptiken	-sAm bolghaniken
1pl	-sAKchu	-sAK boptiken	-sAK bolghaniken
2sg informal	-sAngchu	-sAng boptiken	-sAng bolghaniken
2sg polite	-singizchu	-singiz boptiken	-singiz bolghaniken
2pl informal	-sAnglarchu	-sAnglar boptiken	-sAnglar bolghaniken
2pl polite	-(I)shsilAchu	-(I)shsilA boptiken	-(I)shsilA bolghaniken
3sg/3pl	-sAchu	-sA boptiken	-sA bolghaniken

Entreaty mood

1sg	-(A)ychu
1pl	-(A)ylichu
2sg informal	-chu
2sg polite	-(I)ngchu
2pl informal	-(I)nglarchu
2pl polite	-(I)shsilAchu
3sg/3pl	-sunchu

Anxiety mood

The underlying structure of this is -ma+GAy+past tense direct judgement copula, but both a's are raised to i.

1sg	-miGiydim
1pl	-miGiyduq
2sg informal	-miGiyding
2sg polite	-miGiydingiz
2pl informal	-miGiydinglar
2pl polite	-miGiydila
3sg/3pl	-miGiydi

Necessity mood

1sg	-sAm bolidu
1pl	-sAK bolidu
2sg informal	-sAng bolidu
2sg polite	-singiz bolidu
2pl informal	-sAnglar bolidu
2pl polite	-(I)shsilA bolidu
3sg/3pl	-sA bolidu

Aspect

There are a variety of ways to indicate aspect with respect to verbs in Uyghur, including the use of infixes and auxiliary verbs.

Auxiliary Verbs and the -(I)p converb

The addition of the converb suffix -(I)p to the main verb, then followed by an auxiliary inflected verb, can indicate aspect, in a form known as the aspectual complement. Auxiliary verbs can also be used to indicate direction with verbs like bar-, kel-, ket-, (to go, to come, to leave) in a form known as the directional complement. For example:

مەن

men

1sg

سىلەرنى

siler-ni

2pl-ACC

ساقلاپ

saqla-p

wait-CVB

تۇرىمەن

tur-i-men

continue-PRES.FUT-1sg

مەن سىلەرنى ساقلاپ تۇرىمەن

men siler-ni saqla-p tur-i-men

1sg 2pl-ACC wait-CVB continue-PRES.FUT-1sg

"I will keep waiting for you."

Here the main verb is saqla- (to wait), with tur- being the auxiliary (meaning to continue; keep on, in its auxiliary form). The negative form of -(I)p is -mAy, but the suffix -mAstin can also be used, although it is considerably more informal and limited to the past tense. Example:

ئۇ

u

3sg

مېنى

mëni

1sg.ACC

ساقلىماي

saqli-may

wait-CVB.NEG

كەتتى

ket-ti

leave-PRES.PST-3sg

ئۇ مېنى ساقلىماي كەتتى

u mëni saqli-may ket-ti

3sg 1sg.ACC wait-CVB.NEG leave-PRES.PST-3sg

"He left without waiting for me"

-(I)p, as a converb suffix, can be used in many other ways, such as to link verbs or even entire clauses and sentences. When this is done only the final verb is inflected for person and tense. For example:

مەن

men

1sg

بازارغا

bazar-gha

shop-DAT

بېرىپ،

bër-ip,

go-CVB,

ئالما

alma

apple

ئېلىپ،

ël-ip,

buy-CVB,

تاماق

tamaq

meal

يەپ،

ye-p,

eat-CVB,

ئۆيگە

öy-ge

home-DAT

قايتتىم.

qayt-tim

return-PRES.PST-1sg

مەن بازارغا بېرىپ، ئالما ئېلىپ، تاماق يەپ، ئۆيگە قايتتىم.

men bazar-gha bër-ip, alma ël-ip, tamaq ye-p, öy-ge qayt-tim

1sg shop-DAT go-CVB, apple buy-CVB, meal eat-CVB, home-DAT return-PRES.PST-1sg

"I went to the shops and bought some apples, I ate a meal, then went back home."

The tense and person of all the verbs are indicated by the inflection of the final verb.

Aspect Infixes

Aspect infixes derive from aspect auxiliary verbs merging with verbs in the adverbial form and undergoing sound change.

Infix	Description	Example	Translation
-(I)wat-	Indicates continuity.	ئويناۋاتىدۇ oyna-wat-idu	"they are playing"
-(y)Ala-	Indicates ability or possibility.	يازالايمەن yaz-ala-y-men	"I can write"
-(i)wer-	Indicates non-restriction.
-(I)wet-	Indicates intensification and incisiveness.	ئىچىۋېتەيلى ich-iwët-eyli	"let's drink!" (n.b. -eyli indicates optative/"let's" here)
-(I)wal-	Indicates the aspect of being directed towards the subject.

Verb Formation

Verbs themselves can be word stems unto themselves, or be formed through compounding or verb-derivation suffixes.

Root Verbs

Some examples of root verbs include:

ماڭ

mang

ماڭ

mang

"to walk"

كۈل

kül

كۈل

kül

"to laugh"

They cannot be broken down into any further morphemes.

Derived Verbs

A variety of verb-formation suffixes can be attached to various words (ranging from nouns and adjectives to other verbs) to form verbs. Many of these suffixes use harmonic rules/archiphonemes earlier described.

Suffix	Attached to	Description	Example	Translation
-lA	certain nouns	Indicates the sense of causing/having an object turn into/take on qualities possessed by the base noun.	گۈللە gül-le	to flourish lit. "to become like a flower"
	nouns indicating measuring implements	Indicates the sense of measuring with said implement.	جىڭلا jing-la	to weigh with scales
	certain adjectives	Indicates the sense of causing/having an object take on qualities indicated by the base adjective.	ياخشىلا yaxshi-la	to improve lit. "to make good"
-lAsh	certain nouns	Indicates the sense of producing the object expressed by the noun, or generally occurring on the basis of that object.	پاراڭلاش parang-lash	to chat lit. "to make talk"
	certain adjectives	Indicates the sense of acquiring the qualities expressed by the adjective.	ئېغىرلاش eghir-lash	to become heavy
-lAn	certain nouns	Indicates the sense of acquiring/possessing the noun, or displaying it.	غەزەپلەن ghezep-len	to become angry
	adjectives indicating absence or lack	Indicates feeling/displaying the quality expressed by the adjective.	ئۈمىدسىزلەن ümidsiz-len	to be pessimistic
-A	specific nouns and certain adjectives	Bringing/causing an object/quality to exist/appear.	تۈزە tüz-e	to arrange/tidy lit. "to bring straightness into existence"
-sirA	certain nouns	Expresses that the object indicated by the noun decreases or is needed.	قانسىرا qan-sira	to bleed lit. "to decrease in blood"
-(A)y	certain nouns and certain adjectives	Indicates acquiring the quality/object expressed by the base word.	قاراي qara-y	to blacken/darken
-(A)r	certain adjectives	Indicates acquiring the quality expressed by the base word.	قىسقار qisqa-r	to become short
-i	certain adjectives	Indicates acquiring/possessing the quality expressed by the base word.	تىنچى tinch-i	to quieten down lit. "to acquire/possess peace"
-dA	specific nouns	Varied meanings.	ئىزدە iz-de	to search (iz = trace)
-(i)shtUr	certain verb stems	Indicates doing the verb with minimal effort, or revising it.	تۈزەشتۈر tüze-shtür	to tidy up, straighten out

There are many other highly unproductive suffixes without many examples.

Compound Verbs

These are verbs made up of two words that have merged into one inseparable word, phonetically and semantically, and express a singular lexical meaning. For example:

قارشى

qarshi

ئال

al

قارشى ئال

qarshi al

"to welcome"

Verbal substantives

Participles

There are three groups of participles.

Formation of Uyghur participles

	formation	notes
Perfect participle	-GAn
Continuous participle	-(I)watqan
	-(I)p AUX-GAn	Auxiliary verbs being yat, tur, oltur, and yür
	-GAn	Only with the verbs yat, tur, oltur, and yür
Imperfect participle	-Ydighan
	-(A)r
	-mAs	negative form

The perfect participle

The Perfect Participle displays the action expressed by itself as a quality that has come into existence (i.e. has been completed).

كەلگەن

kel-gen

arrive-PCP.PST

مېھمان

mëhman

guest

كەلگەن مېھمان

kel-gen mëhman

arrive-PCP.PST guest

"a guest who has arrived"

The continuous participle

The Continuous Participle displays as a quality the continuous state or action expressed by itself.

يازىلىۋاتقان

yazil-iwatqan

write-PCP.CONT

خەت

xet

letter

يازىلىۋاتقان خەت

yazil-iwatqan xet

write-PCP.CONT letter

"a letter which is being written"

The imperfect participle

The Imperfect Participle displays the action expressed by itself as a quality which is habitually expressed or will be expressed later, i.e. which has not been completed.

يازالمايدىغان

yazil-ma-ydighan

write-NEG-PCP.IMP

خەت

xet

letter

يازالمايدىغان خەت

yazil-ma-ydighan xet

write-NEG-PCP.IMP letter

"a letter which cannot be written"

Gerunds

There are seven types of gerund (also called verbal nouns).

Formation of Uyghur gerunds

	formation	notes
-sh gerund	-(I)sh
-maq gerund	-mAK
-ghu gerund	-GU
perfect gerund	-GAn-POSS	POSS indicating a possessive suffix
	-GAnliK
continuous gerund	-continuous participle-POSS
	-continuous participle-liK
imperfect gerund	-imperfect participle-POSS
	-imperfect participle-liK
agent gerund	-GUchi

The -sh gerund

The -sh gerund expresses as an obiect an action that is neutral with respect to state. It functions as a noun in the sentence.

ئۇ

u

he

ئەتىگەندە

etigen-de

morning-DAT

گىمناستىكا

gimnastika

gymnastics

ئويناشنى

oyna-sh-ni

do-GER-ACC

ياخشى

yaxshi

good

كۆرىدۇ

kör-idu

see-IMPERF.3sg

ئۇ ئەتىگەندە گىمناستىكا ئويناشنى ياخشى كۆرىدۇ

u etigen-de gimnastika oyna-sh-ni yaxshi kör-idu

he morning-DAT gymnastics do-GER-ACC good see-IMPERF.3sg

"he likes to do gymnastics in the morning"

There are also many special cases this gerund can be used in.

• When used as the subject of a sentence that has its predicate expressed by kërek, lazim, and shert, it indicates the requirement for the action expressed by the gerund to be carried out as well as possible.
• When used as the subject of a sentence that has its predicate expressed by mumkin it indicates an estimation about the occurrence of the action.
• When used in the dative and combined with the verb toghra kelmek it indicates the need for the action to be carried out.
• When used in the dative or combined with the postposition bilen it functions as an adverbial of time, and indicates an action coming into act immediately/soon after the gerund.
• When combined with bilen it can also indicate an action performed as a means of carrying out another action.
• When combined with bilen qalmay it indicates that the subject is not confined solely to the action indicated by the gerund, but also carries out another action.
• When used in the dative (independently) it can indicate an adverbial modifier of direction for some verbs, or a modifier of permission with the verb bol.
• When in the ablative case as a modifier for the word meqset it indicates an action without implication.
• When combined with the posposition üchün it functions as an adverbial modifier of purpose with any verb.
• When in the accusative and in front of a simple past/imperfect present form of the same verb, it turns it into the predicate of a subordinate non-impeding objection clause. (i.e. bërishni baridu - despite my having gone)
• When in the plural form it basically indicates that the action (i) happens in many places or (ii) is repeated on many occasions. or (iii) possesses a representative character.

Adverbials

There are seven types of adverbial.

	formation	notes
Limitation and contrast	-GUche
Purpose and elapsed time	-Gili
Causative adverbial	-GAchA
Concurrence adverbial	-GAch
Extension/prolongation	-GAnsëri
Associative adverbial 1	-A/y
Associative adverbial 2	-(I)p

References

General

• Abdurehim, Esmael (2014), The Lopnor dialect of Uyghur – A descriptive analysis (PDF), Publications of the Institute for Asian and African Studies 17, Helsinki: Unigrafia, ISBN 978-951-51-0384-0
• de Jong, Frederick (2007), A Grammar of Modern Uyghur, Utrecht: Houtsma, ISBN 978-90-801040-8-2
• Engesæth, Tarjei; Yakup, Mahire; Dwyer, Arienne (2009), Greetings from the Teklimakan: A Handbook of Modern Uyghur, Volume 1 (PDF), Lawrence: University of Kansas Scholarworks, ISBN 978-1-936153-03-9
• Hahn, Reinhard F. (1991), Spoken Uyghur, London and Seattle: University of Washington Press, ISBN 0-295-97015-4
• Tömür, Hamit (1987), Hazirqi zaman Uyghur tili grammatikisi (morfologiye), Beijing: Minzu Publishing House Translated by Anne Lee and reprinted in 2003 as Modern Uyghur Grammar (Morphology). Istanbul: Yıldız.