-tu eta gero
After Doing
Take the plain participle and add eta gero or ondoren: jan eta gero or jan ondoren (after eating).
How It Works
Forms.
- -tu eta gero: bukatu eta gero, jan eta gero, etorri eta gero
- -tu ondoren: bukatu ondoren, jan ondoren
- You will also meet -tu ostean, used especially in Bizkaian, and -tu ondoan, used especially in Northern Basque. In Northern Basque and Navarre, -tu eta alone can also mean after.
Keep eta with gero. gero means afterwards, and eta links it to the action: jan eta gero. ondoren can stand alone: jan ondoren. baino never goes with gero; it belongs with lehen in -tu baino lehen.
Own subject. The clause can have a different subject from the main verb: Umeak lotara joan eta gero, lasai hitz egin genuen (After the children went to bed, we talked in peace).
Positive only. An action that did not happen cannot mark a point in time, so these clauses are not made negative. For that, use -tu gabe.
Other ways to order events. Between whole sentences, use lehenengo, gero, azkenik. For right after, use -tu orduko. To describe a noun, add -ko: iritsi osteko lehen orduak.
Examples (6)
- Jan eta gero, paseatzera joango gara.
After eating, we will go for a walk.
- Lana bukatu ondoren, etxera joan nintzen.
After finishing work, I went home.
ondoren means the same as eta gero.
- Afaldu eta gero, telebista ikusten dugu.
After dinner, we watch TV.
The main verb shows it is a habit.
- Umeak lotara joan eta gero, lasai hitz egin genuen.
After the children went to bed, we talked in peace.
The clause has its own subject, umeak.
- Ikastaroa amaitu ondoren, lana aurkitu zuen.
After finishing the course, she found a job.
- Dutxa hartu eta gero, gosaldu nuen.
After taking a shower, I had breakfast.
Common Mistakes
Dropping eta before gero.
Jan gero, paseatzera joango gara.Jan eta gero, paseatzera joango gara.gero after a participle needs eta: jan eta gero. If you want a single word, use ondoren: jan ondoren.
Using the -tzen form.
Jaten eta gero, paseatzera joango gara.Jan eta gero, paseatzera joango gara.These clauses are built on the participle, the dictionary form: jan, not jaten.
Using baino with gero.
Jan baino gero, paseatzera joango gara.Jan eta gero, paseatzera joango gara.baino goes only with lehen (before): jan baino lehen. After is eta gero or ondoren.
How It Connects
Learn This First
After builds on the participle and gero.
Related Patterns
- -tu aurretikBefore Doing
The opposite order: before doing, with aurretik or baino lehen.
Level 3 - -tu ordukoAs Soon as
For an action that follows immediately: as soon as.
Level 4 - joan aurreko egunaThe Day Before Leaving
Adds -ko to these time clauses so they can describe a noun.
Level 5 - -(e)neanWhen: -(e)nean
The general when clause, with a full verb and -(e)nean.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice -tu eta gero in Bubblegum
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