-tu orduko
As Soon as
Put the bare participle before orduko or bezain laster: Iritsi orduko, deitu zidan. (As soon as he arrived, he called me.)
How It Works
Two common forms. Both use the bare participle:
- -tu orduko: Irakaslea sartu orduko, ikasleak isildu ziren. (As soon as the teacher came in, the students went quiet.)
- -tu bezain laster: Etxera iritsi bezain laster, idatziko dizut. (As soon as I get home, I will write to you.)
A third option is -tu eta berehala, "right after": Jaiki eta berehala, kafea hartzen dut. (Right after I get up, I have coffee.) It is close to -tu eta gero, with an extra sense of speed.
Tense comes from the main clause. The participle stays the same for every time:
- Past: Iritsi orduko, deitu zidan.
- Habit: Argitu orduko, lanean hasten dira. (As soon as it gets light, they start work.)
- Future: Bukatu bezain laster, joango naiz.
Longer forms. A full verb with -(e)n is also possible, especially with bezain laster: Sartu den bezain laster, hizketan hasi da. (As soon as she came in, she started talking.) The short participle form is the most common.
Region. In Bizkaian speech, orduko can also mean "before". In standard Basque it means "as soon as", as described here.
Examples (6)
- Iritsi orduko, deitu zidan.
As soon as he arrived, he called me.
- Bukatu bezain laster, joango naiz.
As soon as I finish, I will go.
The future is in the main clause only.
- Irakaslea sartu orduko, ikasleak isildu ziren.
As soon as the teacher came in, the students went quiet.
- Ohean sartu orduko, lokartu nintzen.
As soon as I got into bed, I fell asleep.
- Etxera iritsi bezain laster, idatziko dizut.
As soon as I get home, I will write to you.
- Jaiki eta berehala, kafea hartzen dut.
Right after I get up, I have coffee.
-tu eta berehala means "right after".
Common Mistakes
Using the -tzen form instead of the participle.
Iristen orduko, deitu zidan.Iritsi orduko, deitu zidan.orduko and bezain laster follow the participle: iritsi, bukatu, sartu.
Putting the future ending on the participle.
Bukatuko bezain laster, joango naiz.Bukatu bezain laster, joango naiz.The participle does not show time. The main clause, joango naiz, already makes the sentence future.
How It Connects
Learn This First
As soon as follows after.
Related Patterns
- -(e)neanWhen: -(e)nean
The general "when"; orduko adds that the second event follows at once.
Level 2 - -tzeanWhen Doing: -tzean
Another way to link two events that happen together.
Level 3 - bezainAs ... as: Bezain
bezain laster is built from bezain, "as ... as": literally "as soon".
Level 2 - -tu arteUntil
Another time clause built on the bare participle.
Level 3 - -tu / -i / -nThe Dictionary Form of Verbs
The participle is the verb form these clauses use.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice -tu orduko in Bubblegum
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