Qolayotgan

Qolayotgan is an Uzbek present participle derived from the verb qolmoq, meaning to stay or remain. It functions as an adjective or as part of a relative clause to indicate that the action of staying or remaining is ongoing. In English this corresponds to “remaining” or “the one who is staying.” The form is commonly used in written and spoken Uzbek to describe an ongoing state or action.

Grammar and formation: The participle is formed by attaching the suffix -ayotgan to the verb stem qol-, with usual Uzbek vowel harmony. It can modify a noun directly, as in qolayotgan odamlar (the people who are staying), or appear in a clause that describes an ongoing situation, such as Men qolayotgan paytda… (while I am staying…). It highlights imperfective aspect, stressing continuity rather than completion.

Usage and nuance: Qolayotgan is typically used in descriptive, narrative, or formal contexts to convey that a person, event, or situation is currently in the act of remaining or continuing. It contrasts with qolgan, the past participle meaning “left” or “the remaining (ones)” in a completed sense. It can also appear in compound expressions referring to time or tasks that still need to be completed.

Examples:

- Qolayotgan odamlar xonada kutmoqda. The people who are staying are waiting in the room.

- Qolayotgan vaqtimiz besh daqiqaga yetdi. The remaining time is now five minutes.

- Qolayotgan ishlar ro‘yxati tez o‘zgaradi. The list of remaining tasks changes quickly.

Related forms include qolgan (past participle, “left/remaining” in the sense of what remains after a completed action) and qolib ketgan (staying behind). Qolayotgan serves as a versatile tool in Uzbek to express ongoing states of remaining or continuing actions.