Menimşe, aituinşa, biluimşe: whose thought it is and where the information is from
The unit about inference rests on a construction English has no single form for: the tail -sha / -şe means "according to", "in the opinion of", "as far as" — and it hangs straight on the word, with no preposition. English says "in my opinion", "according to the doctor", "as far as I know" three different ways; Kazakh uses one tail, and the difference between them is carried by what the tail sticks to. For example…
How it works
The unit about inference rests on a construction English has no single form for: the tail -sha / -şe means "according to", "in the opinion of", "as far as" — and it hangs straight on the word, with no preposition. English says "in my opinion", "according to the doctor", "as far as I know" three different ways; Kazakh uses one tail, and the difference between them is carried by what the tail sticks to.
On a pronoun — you get an opinion. Men gives menimşe (in my opinion), sen — senimşe, ol — onyñşa. Notice that between the root and -sha stands a possessive tail, and the word is taken apart like this: men + im + şe. At full length the same is said meniñ pikirimşe — in my opinion.
On a name of action — you get the source of the information. Aitu (to say) gives aituinşa — according to him; bilu (to know) gives biluimşe — as far as I know; estu — estuişe — as I heard. Here too the person is inside: aituimşa — according to me, aituiñşa — according to you, aituinşa — according to him. Whose words these are is usually named up front in the genitive: därigerdiñ aituinşa.
On a noun of possibility — you get a measure. Mümkindik gives mümkindiginşe — as far as possible; qalau — qalauinşa — as you wish; shama — shamasinşa — within one's strength. Hence mümkindiginşe tez — as fast as possible: a construction, not a word.
The same tail without the possessive yields a manner. Qazaqsha, orysşa, zhazbasha (in writing), auyzsha (orally), başqasha (otherwise). The difference is visible in the make-up: if there is a person tail between the root and -sha, the talk is about someone's opinion; if not — about a manner.
Nearby works the postposition boiynsha — "according to, by". It does not stick but stands as a separate word after the noun: ereje boiynsha (as a rule), zhospar boiynsha (by the plan), mamanduğy boiynsha (by one's specialty). The difference from -sha is simple: -sha introduces someone's judgment, boiynsha — a written basis. Därigerdiñ aituinşa and nusqaulıq boiynsha are not the same: the first can be disputed, the second cannot.
Table
| what it hangs on | the make-up | the word | in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| a pronoun | men + im + şe | menimşe | in my opinion |
| a pronoun | sen + im + şe | senimşe | in your opinion |
| a name of action | aitu + y + nşa | aituinşa | according to him |
| a name of action | bilu + im + şe | biluimşe | as far as I know |
| a noun of possibility | mümkindik + i + nşe | mümkindiginşe | as far as possible |
| no person tail | zhazba + şa | zhazbasha | in writing |
| no person tail | başqa + şa | başqasha | otherwise |
| a postposition | a separate word | ereje boiynsha | as a rule |
By example
- Менімше, бұл шешім дұрыс емесIn my opinion, this decision is wrong
- Дәрігердің айтуынша, қауіп жоқAccording to the doctor, there is no danger
- Құжаттарды ереже бойынша, мүмкіндігінше тез тапсырыңызSubmit the documents according to the rules and as fast as possible
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
Menimşe, aituinşa, biluimşe: how does it work in Kazakh?
The unit about inference rests on a construction English has no single form for: the tail -sha / -şe means "according to", "in the opinion of", "as far as" — and it hangs straight on the word, with no preposition. English says "in my opinion", "according to the doctor", "as far as I know" three…
What does it look like in an example sentence Kazakh?
“Менімше, бұл шешім дұрыс емес” — In my opinion, this decision is wrong. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.