-(e)nerako / -(e)n bakoitzean

By the Time, Every Time

Level 5

-(e)nerako means "by the time": Iristen zarenerako, afaria prest egongo da (By the time you arrive, dinner will be ready). -(e)n bakoitzean means "every time": Bilbora joaten naizen bakoitzean, Ane ikusten dut.

How It Works

1. The -(e)n form. The auxiliary takes -(e)n: da → den, naiz → naizen, zara → zaren, du → duen, dut → dudan. Past forms already end in -n: zen, nintzen, zuen.

2. -(e)nerako: by the time. Add -rako to the -(e)n form:

  • present or future: Iristen zarenerako, afaria prest egongo da. (By the time you arrive, dinner will be ready.)
  • past: Iritsi nintzenerako, trena joana zen. (By the time I arrived, the train had left.)

It means the main event is already done, or happening, when the other one arrives. -(e)neko means the same: iristen zareneko.

3. -(e)n bakoitzean: every time. Put bakoitzean after the -(e)n form. Its forms come from bakoitza:

  • Bilbora joaten naizen bakoitzean, Ane ikusten dut. (Every time I go to Bilbao, I see Ane.)
  • Deitzen zidan bakoitzean, pozik jartzen nintzen. (Every time he called me, I was happy.)

-(e)n guztietan means the same: joaten naizen guztietan.

4. Compare. -(e)nean means one "when", -tu arte means "until", and -(e)n bitartean means "while".

Tip: For a present or future deadline, the usual choice is the -tzen form: iristen zarenerako.

Examples (6)

  1. Iristen zarenerako, afaria prest egongo da.

    By the time you arrive, dinner will be ready.

    zara → zaren + -erako.

  2. Iritsi nintzenerako, trena joana zen.

    By the time I arrived, the train had left.

    nintzen already ends in -n.

  3. Itzultzen zarenerako, lana bukatuta egongo da.

    By the time you get back, the work will be finished.

  4. Bilbora joaten naizen bakoitzean, Ane ikusten dut.

    Every time I go to Bilbao, I see Ane.

    naiz → naizen + bakoitzean.

  5. Deitzen zidan bakoitzean, pozik jartzen nintzen.

    Every time he called me, I was happy.

    Past habit. It can also mean "Every time she called me".

  6. Ikusten zaitudan bakoitzean, irribarre egiten duzu.

    Every time I see you, you smile.

    zaitut → zaitudan.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving -(e)n off the auxiliary.

    Bilbora joaten naiz bakoitzean, Ane ikusten dut.
    Bilbora joaten naizen bakoitzean, Ane ikusten dut.

    bakoitzean needs the -(e)n form of the auxiliary: naizen.

  • Dropping -ean from bakoitzean.

    Bilbora joaten naizen bakoitz, Ane ikusten dut.
    Bilbora joaten naizen bakoitzean, Ane ikusten dut.

    The time phrase needs the full form bakoitzean (on each occasion).

How It Connects

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

-(e)nerako / -(e)n bakoitzeanLevel 5By the Time, Every Time

Learn This First

By the time and every time follow when, -rako and bakoitza.

Words in This Pattern

bakoitz