gisa

As, In the Role of

Level 5

Irakasle gisa lan egiten du. (He works as a teacher.) Opari gisa eman diot. (I gave it to him as a present.)

How It Works

1. A role or function. Use the bare noun, as in the indefinite form:

  • irakasle gisa (as a teacher), itzultzaile gisa (as a translator)
  • opari gisa (as a present), adibide gisa (as an example)

2. In someone's way. After a genitive or a possessive, gisa (also gisan) means "in the manner of": Bakoitzak bere gisa egiten du lana. (Everyone works in their own way.) Standard Basque also has -(r)en gisara and -(r)en gisaz.

3. Describing a noun. With -ko, -(r)en gisako means "like" or "of this kind": honen gisako etxeak (houses like this one). Compare bezalako, -(r)en antzeko, -(r)en aldean.

4. gisa, bezala and -tzat. gisa gives a role: irakasle gisa lan egin (to work as a teacher). bezala compares: irakasle batek bezala hitz egin (to speak like a teacher). -tzat goes with verbs of considering: laguntzat hartu (to take someone as a friend).

Examples (6)

  1. Irakasle gisa lan egiten du.

    He works as a teacher.

  2. Opari gisa eman diot.

    I gave it to him as a present.

  3. Itzultzaile gisa etorri zen bilerara.

    She came to the meeting as a translator.

  4. Adibide gisa, irakurri esaldi hau.

    As an example, read this sentence.

  5. Bakoitzak bere gisa egiten du lana.

    Everyone works in their own way.

    After a possessive, gisa means "in the manner of".

  6. Honen gisako etxeak gutxi geratzen dira.

    There are few houses like this one left.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding the article before gisa.

    Irakaslea gisa lan egiten du.
    Irakasle gisa lan egiten du.

    For a role, gisa follows the bare noun, with no article: irakasle gisa.

How It Connects

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

gisaLevel 5As, In the Role of

Learn This First

In the role of follows -tzat.

Words in This Pattern

gisagisa