Negative obligation (-mamalı, -memeli)

Negative Obligation: "Must Not" and "Should Not"

To express prohibitions ("must not") or negative advice ("should not"), add the negative suffix -ma / -me right before the obligation suffix -malı / -meli.

Combined, they form:

  • Back vowels (a, ı, o, u): -mamalı
  • Front vowels (e, i, ö, ü): -memeli

Just like the positive form, the third person ("he", "she", "it", or plural noun subjects) takes no personal endings.

The workers must not enter the mine.
İşçiler madene girmemeli.
The children must not get lost inside the cave.
Çocuklar mağaranın içinde kaybolmamalı.

Giving Warnings: "You must not"

To warn someone directly, attach the second-person endings -sın / -sin (informal singular) or -sınız / -siniz (plural or formal).

  • Singular: Verb + -mamalısın / -memelisin
  • Plural/formal: Verb + -mamalısınız / -memelisiniz
This job is very dangerous, you must not leave your hard hat.
Bu iş çok tehlikeli, baretini bırakmamalısın.
This cave is dangerous, you must not drop your flashlight.
Bu mağara tehlikeli, fenerini düşürmemelisin.
You must not dig a tunnel at night.
Gece tünel kazmamalısınız.

Group Rules: "We must not"

For group rules ("we must not"), use the first-person plural ending. Since the obligation suffix ends in a vowel, insert the buffer consonant -y- before attaching -ız / -iz.

  • We must not: Verb + -mamalıyız / -memeliyiz
This mine is very dangerous, we must not dig deeper.
Bu maden çok tehlikeli, daha derin kazmamalıyız.