Saying Verb + -(e)nez

Apparently, As They Say

Level 4

Add -(e)nez to a verb like dio, dirudi, esan dute or dakit to say where the information comes from: Dirudienez, ez da etorriko. (Apparently he will not come.)

How It Works

Common frames. These fixed-feeling phrases are very frequent:

  • dirudienez: apparently, it seems (from dirudi)
  • esan didatenez: from what they told me
  • dioenez, diotenez: as he says, as they say (from dio)
  • nik dakidanez: as far as I know
  • dakizuenez: as you know
  • ikusten duzuenez: as you can see

How to build it. Add -(e)n and then -ez to the conjugated verb: dirudi → dirudienez, dio → dioenez, dakit → dakidanez (final t becomes d), didate → didatenez. A verb that already ends in -n just adds -ez: zuen → zuenez.

It frames the whole sentence. The -(e)nez clause is not part of what is being claimed; it says where the claim comes from. So in Esan didatenez, Ane ez dago etxean, the ez only denies that Ane is at home. It does not deny that they told you.

Two kinds of -(e)nez. With other verbs, the same ending gives a reason: Berandu denez, etxera noa (Since it is late, I am going home). With verbs of saying, knowing, seeing or seeming, it gives the source instead. -(e)n bezala can do the same job: Esan dudan bezala (As I said).

With a noun. To name a source with a noun, use -(r)en arabera: Egunkariaren arabera (according to the newspaper). The particle omen also marks something as hearsay without a separate clause.

Examples (6)

  1. Dirudienez, ez da etorriko.

    Apparently, he will not come.

  2. Esan didatenez, bihar itxita dago.

    From what they told me, it is closed tomorrow.

  3. Nik dakidanez, Ane Bilbon bizi da.

    As far as I know, Ane lives in Bilbao.

    dakit becomes dakidanez: final t turns into d.

  4. Egunkariak dioenez, bihar euria egingo du.

    According to the newspaper, it will rain tomorrow.

  5. Ikusten duzuenez, gela hau txikia da.

    As you can see, this room is small.

  6. Dakizuenez, datorren astean ez dago klaserik.

    As you know, there are no classes next week.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the "that" form instead of -(e)nez.

    Dirudiela, ez da etorriko.
    Dirudienez, ez da etorriko.

    The source phrase needs -(e)nez: dirudienez. The -(e)la form is for "that" after a verb, as in Badirudi ez dela etorriko (It seems that he will not come).

  • Using -(e)nean, "when", for the source of information. The speaker means "from what they told me".

    Esan didatenean, bihar itxita dago.
    Esan didatenez, bihar itxita dago.

    esan didatenean means "when they told me", which does not fit a statement about tomorrow. -(e)nez names where the information comes from.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Saying Verb + -(e)nezLevel 4Apparently, As They Say

Learn This First

As they say follows -(e)nez.