-(r)en arabera

According to

Level 4

-(r)en arabera says what something follows or depends on: Legearen arabera, hemen ezin da erre (According to the law, you cannot smoke here). Eguraldiaren arabera erabakiko dugu (We will decide depending on the weather).

How It Works

Two meanings.

  • According to a source: Aurreikuspenen arabera, bihar euria egingo du (According to the forecast, it will rain tomorrow). Adituen arabera (according to experts).
  • Depending on, in line with: Eguraldiaren arabera erabakiko dugu. Adinaren arabera ordaintzen da (What you pay depends on your age).

After a verb. Euskaltzaindia's handbook is clear that arabera needs a noun phrase in the genitive. With a clause, use the headless relative -(e)na and add -ren: esan zuenaren arabera, diotenaren arabera (according to what they say). An indirect question cannot take arabera. Euskaltzaindia's handbook simply leaves arabera out: Iritziak asko aldatzen dira, nori galdetzen zaion (Opinions change a lot depending on who you ask). You can also sum the question up with horren arabera: Zer eguraldi egiten duen, horren arabera erabakiko dugu (We will decide according to what the weather is like).

Short forms. Horren arabera means accordingly. Before a noun, add -ko: adinaren araberako prezioak (age-based prices).

Similar expressions. With verbs of saying and seeming, -(e)nez is a lighter alternative: Esan didatenez, bihar itxita dago (From what I have been told, it is closed tomorrow). For a personal opinion, Basque usually says nire ustez (in my opinion).

Examples (6)

  1. Aurreikuspenen arabera, bihar euria egingo du.

    According to the forecast, it will rain tomorrow.

  2. Eguraldiaren arabera erabakiko dugu.

    We will decide depending on the weather.

  3. Legearen arabera, hemen ezin da erre.

    According to the law, you cannot smoke here.

  4. Adinaren arabera ordaintzen da.

    What you pay depends on your age.

  5. Hark esan zuenaren arabera, bihar itxita dago.

    According to what he said, it is closed tomorrow.

    esan zuena (what he said) + -ren + arabera.

  6. Horren arabera jokatu behar dugu.

    We have to act accordingly.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding arabera directly to a verb.

    Hark esan zuen arabera, bihar itxita dago.
    Hark esan zuenaren arabera, bihar itxita dago.

    arabera needs a noun phrase in the genitive. Turn the clause into a noun with -(e)na (esan zuena, what he said) and add -ren.

  • Leaving out the genitive after a noun.

    Eguraldia arabera erabakiko dugu.
    Eguraldiaren arabera erabakiko dugu.

    The noun before arabera always takes -(r)en: eguraldiaren, legearen, adituen.

How It Connects

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-(r)en araberaLevel 4According to

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According to needs the genitive.

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Words in This Pattern

arabera