-(e)nez
As, Since: -(e)nez
Add -(e)nez to the verb to say as or since: Berandu denez, etxera noa (Since it is late, I am going home).
How It Works
Forms. Attach -(e)nez to the auxiliary or synthetic verb: da → denez, dago → dagoenez, zara → zarenez, du → duenez, dut → dudanez, zen → zenez, zegoen → zegoenez.
Position. The clause usually comes first and sets the scene: Euria ari duenez, etxean geratuko gara (As it is raining, we will stay at home).
-(e)nez or -lako?
- Zergatik ez zara etorri? Gaixorik nengoelako. Why did you not come? Because I was ill. Only -lako answers why.
- Gaixorik nengoenez, ez nintzen etorri. As I was ill, I did not come. Here -(e)nez gives the background.
A longer form. Writing often uses -(e)nez gero with the same meaning: Berandu denez gero, etxera noa.
Do not confuse. With verbs of saying and seeming, -(e)nez means as or apparently: Dirudienez, ez da etorriko. For a formal cause in written texts, see dela eta.
Examples (6)
- Berandu denez, etxera noa.
Since it is late, I am going home.
denez is da + -(e)nez.
- Gaur jaieguna denez, dendak itxita daude.
As today is a holiday, the shops are closed.
- Euria ari duenez, etxean geratuko gara.
As it is raining, we will stay at home.
- Gaixorik nengoenez, ez nintzen klasera joan.
As I was ill, I did not go to class.
In the past, nengoen takes -ez: nengoenez.
- Autoa ez dabilenez, autobusez etorri naiz.
As the car does not work, I have come by bus.
- Euskaraz dakizunez, zuk itzuliko duzu.
Since you know Basque, you will translate it.
Common Mistakes
Answering zergatik? with -(e)nez.
Zergatik ez zara etorri? Gaixorik nengoenez.Zergatik ez zara etorri? Gaixorik nengoelako.-(e)nez gives background to another sentence; it cannot stand alone as the answer to why. A reply to zergatik? takes -lako.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Since follows because.
Related Patterns
- -(e)la etaBecause: -(e)la Eta
A spoken way to add a reason, close in use to -(e)nez.
Level 4 - Saying Verb + -(e)nezApparently, As They Say
The same ending with verbs of saying and seeming: apparently, as they say.
Level 4 - -(r)engatik / -(r)i eskerBecause of, Thanks to
Causes expressed with nouns rather than clauses.
Level 3 - -(e)z geroIf, Given That: -z Gero
A related ending, -z gero, for if or given that.
Level 5 - dela eta / -(e)la medioBecause of (Formal)
Formal written ways to give a cause.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice -(e)nez in Bubblegum
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