ahal izan
Can: Ahal
ahal goes between the participle and the auxiliary: Etorri ahal zara? (Can you come?) Txartelarekin ordaindu ahal dut? (Can I pay by card?)
How It Works
The pattern. Participle + ahal + auxiliary:
- Etorri ahal zara? (Can you come?)
- Hemen aparkatu ahal dut? (Can I park here?)
- Leihoa ireki ahal duzu, mesedez? (Can you open the window, please?)
The auxiliary follows the main verb. Choose it as if ahal were not there. You say etorri naiz, so you say etorri ahal naiz. You say ordaindu dut, so you say ordaindu ahal dut. This is different from behar and nahi, which usually take dut.
Future. For will be able to, use ahal izango: Bihar etorri ahal izango naiz (I will be able to come tomorrow).
Negative. The usual way to say cannot is ezin: Ezin naiz etorri (I cannot come). In Navarre and the Northern Basque Country you may also hear forms like ez naiz joaten ahal.
Can or know how? ahal is about being able to in a situation. For a skill you have learned, use jakin + -tzen: Igeri egiten badakit (I know how to swim).
Two other ahal. Later you will meet the potential forms, a more formal way to say can, and a different ahal for wishes, placed after the -ko form: Etorriko ahal da! (I hope he comes!)
Examples (6)
- Etorri ahal zara?
Can you come?
etorri takes zara, so the auxiliary stays zara.
- Txartelarekin ordaindu ahal dut?
Can I pay by card?
ordaindu takes dut.
- Hemen aparkatu ahal dut?
Can I park here?
- Leihoa ireki ahal duzu, mesedez?
Can you open the window, please?
- Bihar etorri ahal izango naiz.
I will be able to come tomorrow.
ahal izango makes the future.
- Nahi duzunean etorri ahal zara.
You can come whenever you want.
Common Mistakes
Putting ahal after the auxiliary.
Etorri zara ahal?Etorri ahal zara?ahal sits between the participle and the auxiliary.
Switching to dut, as with behar and nahi.
Etorri ahal duzu?Etorri ahal zara?In Standard Basque, ahal keeps the main verb's own auxiliary. etorri takes naiz, zara, da...
Using ahal for a skill when you mean know how to.
Igeri egin ahal dut.Igeri egiten badakit.Igeri egin ahal dut means I am able to swim, for example today. To say you know how to swim, use jakin with the -tzen form.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Ahal follows the participle and preserves the main verb’s ordinary auxiliary choice.
Related Patterns
- ezinCannot: Ezin
The usual negative of ahal: cannot.
Level 2 - behar izanMust: Behar Dut
Uses the same word order, but usually takes dut.
Level 2 - -tzen + jakinKnowing How to
Says know how to, for a learned skill.
Level 2 - naiteke / dezaketCan: The Potential Forms
A more formal set of forms meaning can.
Level 3 - Future + ahalHopes and Wishes
A different use of ahal, for wishes.
Level 4 - -tu / -i / -nThe Dictionary Form of Verbs
ahal follows the participle.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice ahal izan in Bubblegum
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