-(r)i buruz / -z
About
X-(r)i buruz or X-z = about X: politikari buruz (about politics), horretaz (about that).
How It Works
1. -(r)i buruz. Put the word in the dative and add buruz: filmari buruz (about the film), lagunei buruz (about the friends), zuri buruz (about you), Mikeli buruz (about Mikel).
2. The instrumental -z. The instrumental -z also means "about":
- with the article: filmaz (about the film), bidaiaz (about the trip)
- plural: liburuez (about the books)
- question words and demonstratives, with -ta-: zertaz, horretaz, honetaz (see demonstratives with endings)
3. Verbs that take -z. hitz egin (talk) takes either form. Verbs of remembering take -z: Beti oroituko naiz zutaz. (I will always remember you.)
4. Before a noun. Add -ko to buruz: euskarari buruzko liburua (a book about Basque).
5. Another way. -(r)en inguruan (around) is also used for topics, especially in writing; see zehar and inguruan.
Tip: buruz without a dative has other meanings: buruz ikasi means "learn by heart".
Examples (6)
- Politikari buruz hitz egin dugu.
We have talked about politics.
- Zertaz ari zarete hizketan?
What are you talking about?
zertaz is zer (what) with the instrumental -z.
- Horretaz ez dakit ezer.
I don't know anything about that.
- Euskarari buruzko liburu bat irakurtzen ari naiz.
I am reading a book about Basque.
buruzko describes the noun liburu.
- Bidaiaz hitz egin dugu afarian.
We talked about the trip at dinner.
- Beti oroituko naiz zutaz.
I will always remember you.
oroitu (remember) takes -z.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the dative before buruz.
Politika buruz hitz egin dugu.Politikari buruz hitz egin dugu.buruz follows a word in the dative: politikari, filmari, zuri.
Using buruz, not buruzko, before a noun.
Euskarari buruz liburu bat irakurtzen ari naiz.Euskarari buruzko liburu bat irakurtzen ari naiz.To describe a noun, buruz needs -ko: euskarari buruzko liburua.
Using -(r)ekin for "about".
Bidaiarekin hitz egin dugu.Bidaiaz hitz egin dugu.-(r)ekin means "with", so the first sentence says you talked with the trip. For a topic, use -z or -(r)i buruz.
How It Connects
Learn This First
About needs the dative and the instrumental.
Related Patterns
- Phrase + -ko + NounLinking Phrases with -ko
buruzko uses -ko to describe a noun.
Level 3 - oinez / eginezManner with -z
Another use of -z: how something is done.
Level 3 - This and That With Endings
horretaz and honetaz use the demonstrative case forms.
Level 2 - zehar / inguruanThroughout and Around
-(r)en inguruan is another way to name a topic.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice -(r)i buruz / -z in Bubblegum
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