-z gain
Besides
To say besides X, put X in the instrumental -z and add gain: Euskaraz gain, frantsesa ere badaki (Besides Basque, she also knows French).
How It Works
How to build it. Put the first item in the instrumental -z and add gain. In this meaning, gain takes no article or case ending:
- euskara → euskaraz gain (besides Basque)
- lana → lanaz gain (besides work), etxea → etxeaz gain
- ikasleak → ikasleez gain (besides the students), with the plural -ez
- hori → horretaz gain or horrez gain (besides that)
- merkea izatea → merkea izateaz gain (besides being cheap), using the -tzea form
The main clause. Because you are adding something, the main clause often has ere: Ikasleez gain, gurasoak ere etorri ziren (Besides the students, the parents came too).
A longer form. -z gainera means the same thing: euskaraz gainera. Do not confuse it with the connector gainera on its own, which adds a new point to a whole sentence (moreover).
Not the same as -(r)en gain. With the genitive, gain means on top of, or at someone's charge: nire gain (my responsibility), guztien gain (above everyone). Only the instrumental -z gives the meaning besides.
Examples (6)
- Euskaraz gain, frantsesa ere badaki.
Besides Basque, she also knows French.
- Horretaz gain, merkea da.
Besides that, it is cheap.
horretaz is the instrumental of hori; horrez gain is also common.
- Lanaz gain, unibertsitatean ikasten du.
Besides working, he studies at the university.
- Merkea izateaz gain, oso goxoa da.
Besides being cheap, it is very tasty.
A -tzea verbal noun takes -z too: izatea → izateaz.
- Ikasleez gain, gurasoak ere etorri ziren.
Besides the students, the parents came too.
ikasleez is the plural instrumental.
- Etxeaz gain, auto bat ere utzi zion.
Besides the house, she also left him a car.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the instrumental -z.
Euskara gain, frantsesa ere badaki.Euskaraz gain, frantsesa ere badaki.In the meaning besides, gain always follows a phrase in the instrumental -z.
Using the genitive -(r)en instead of -z.
Lanaren gain, unibertsitatean ikasten du.Lanaz gain, unibertsitatean ikasten du.-(r)en gain means on top of or at someone's charge, as in nire gain (my responsibility). To say besides, use -z gain.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Besides follows the instrumental.
Related Patterns
- gainera / izan ere / hau daMoreover, In Fact, That Is
gainera on its own adds a point to a whole sentence; -z gain adds one item.
Level 4 - ereAlso and Neither (Ere)
The main clause after -z gain often uses ere to show that something is added.
Level 1 - -tzeaDoing as a Noun: -tzea
A whole action can be the first item once it is a -tzea noun: ikasteaz gain.
Level 2 - -(r)i buruz / -zAbout
The same instrumental -z also means about: horretaz ez dakit ezer.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice -z gain in Bubblegum
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