geçmemek

Geçmemek is a Turkish verb form that functions as the negative infinitive of geçmek. It denotes the act of not passing or not getting through something, and can refer to both physical passage through a barrier or to not successfully meet a threshold such as an exam, test, or criteria. In usage, geçmemek emphasizes failure or inability to pass rather than the mere absence of passing.

Grammatically, geçmemek is built from the verb geçmek with the negative suffix -memak to form the infinitive of the negation. It is used in clauses where the subject is understood or explicit, and often appears in statements about outcomes, difficulties, or constraints. The form can appear in nominalized constructions such as geçmeme, which expresses the idea of not passing as a concept or event, and can function in sentences describing reasons, consequences, or evaluations.

Common contexts include education, competitive processes, and physical passage: sınavı geçmemek (to fail the exam), bir kapıdan geçmemek (to not go through a door), bir sınırı geçmemek (to not cross a limit). Geçmemek can convey both the result of not passing and the ongoing state of not having passed, depending on the surrounding verbs and context. For nuanced usage, it may be contrasted with geçmek (to pass) and with more specific verbs that describe the kind of passage or achievement being discussed.