Unutmaktan

Unutmaktan is a Turkish verbal noun form derived from the verb quit "unutmak" (to forget). The base infinitive is unutmak, and the suffix -maktan, used with infinitives, creates a gerundial phrase that conveys the act of forgetting or the idea of forgetting as a concept. In Turkish, this ablative form can function as a noun phrase or as part of a larger clause, often indicating the act in relation to other verbs or prepositions.

Morphology and function

Unutmaktan is formed by attaching -maktan to the infinitive unutmak, producing a noun-like unit meaning “the act of forgetting” or “from forgetting.” The form can be used in situations where the act itself is the topic, object, or cause of another action. It frequently appears in constructions with verbs that express fear, avoidance, obligation, or causation, such as korkmak (to fear) and kaçınmak (to avoid): unutmaktan korkmak, unutmaktan kaçınmak. It can also appear with phrases like unutmaktan dolayı meaning “due to forgetting” or “because of forgetting.”

Usage notes

As a gerundial form, unutmaktan can introduce adverbial or noun-like clauses. The meaning shifts from a simple verb to a nominalized concept: “the act of forgetting” rather than the event of forgetting in a specific tense. In many contexts, it functions as the object or complement of other verbs, adjectives, or prepositional phrases.

Examples

- Bir şey unutmaktan korkuyorum. (I am afraid of forgetting something.)

- Randevuyu unutmaktan kaçınmak için hatırlatıcı kurdu. (I set a reminder to avoid forgetting the appointment.)

Related terms include unutmak (to forget) and other -mak/-mek nominalizations that express similar gerundive ideas.

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