-(r)en bidez
By Means of
-(r)en bidez and -(r)en bitartez mean through or by means of: Lagun baten bitartez ezagutu genuen (We met him through a friend). Internet bidez erosi dut (I have bought it online).
How It Works
Forms.
- With the genitive: posta elektronikoaren bidez (by email), lagun baten bitartez (through a friend), haren bidez (through him)
- bidez with a bare noun: Internet bidez, telefono bidez, dekretu bidez (by decree)
- bitartez always takes the genitive: Interneten bitartez, not *Internet bitartez
Channels, people and methods. Use these for the channel or go-between through which something happens: a medium (irratiaren bidez, through the radio), a person (itzultzaile baten bitartez, through an interpreter) or a method (ariketen bidez, through exercises).
Compare the instrumental. For transport and languages, Basque uses the simpler -z: trenez (by train), euskaraz (in Basque). For how an action is carried out, -z on a participle is common: Ariketak eginez ikasten da (You learn by doing exercises).
Before a noun. Add -ko: Interneten bidezko erosketak (online purchases), posta bidezko ikastaroa (a correspondence course).
Examples (6)
- Posta elektronikoaren bidez bidali dut.
I have sent it by email.
- Lagun baten bitartez ezagutu genuen.
We met him through a friend.
bitartez after the genitive baten.
- Internet bidez erosi dut.
I have bought it online.
bidez can follow a bare noun.
- Itzultzaile baten bitartez hitz egin genuen.
We spoke through an interpreter.
- Ariketen bidez hobetuko duzu.
You will improve through exercises.
- Interneten bidezko erosketak gero eta ohikoagoak dira.
Online shopping is more and more common.
Before a noun, bidez takes -ko.
Common Mistakes
Using bitartez with a bare noun.
Lagun bat bitartez ezagutu genuen.Lagun baten bitartez ezagutu genuen.bitartez always follows a genitive. Only bidez can attach to a bare noun, as in Internet bidez.
Leaving the article without the genitive.
Posta elektronikoa bidez bidali dut.Posta elektronikoaren bidez bidali dut.If the noun has the article, it must be in the genitive: posta elektronikoaren bidez. Only a bare noun, without the article, can attach directly: Internet bidez.
How It Connects
Learn This First
By means of combines -z and the genitive.
Related Patterns
- oinez / eginezManner with -z
Another way to say by doing something: ariketak eginez.
Level 3 - Phrase + -ko + NounLinking Phrases with -ko
The -ko in bidezko, used before a noun.
Level 3 - -(r)en ondoriozAs a Result of
Another postposition after the genitive, meaning as a result of.
Level 4 - -(e)n bitarteanWhile
bitartean shares its root with bitartez: bitarte, the space in between.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice -(r)en bidez in Bubblegum
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