-(r)en alde / -(r)en aurka
For and Against
Put the noun in the genitive and add alde (for) or aurka (against): Legearen alde nago (I am in favour of the law). Gerraren aurka gaude (We are against the war).
How It Works
Forming it. Use the genitive of the noun, then the postposition:
- legearen alde (for the law), Aneren alde (on Ane's side), zure alde (on your side)
- gerraren aurka or gerraren kontra (against the war), haren aurka (against him)
With verbs. For an opinion, use egon: Horren alde nago (I am for that). Proiektuaren kontra daude (They are against the project). They also go with other verbs: euskararen alde lan egin (to work for the Basque language), Athleticen aurka jokatu (to play against Athletic). alde and aurka can also stand alone: Nor dago alde eta nor aurka? (Who is for and who is against?)
Before a noun. Add -ko: bakearen aldeko manifestazioa (a demonstration for peace), gerraren aurkako legea (the anti-war law).
Other meanings. kontra can also mean physically against: Bizikleta hormaren kontra utzi dut (I have left the bike against the wall). Without a genitive, alde egin means to leave: Alde hemendik! (Get out of here!)
Examples (6)
- Legearen alde nago.
I am in favour of the law.
- Gerraren aurka gaude.
We are against the war.
- Beti zure alde egongo naiz.
I will always be on your side.
With pronouns, use the possessive: zure alde.
- Realak Athleticen kontra jokatuko du larunbatean.
Real will play against Athletic on Saturday.
- Bakearen aldeko manifestazio bat egin dute.
They have held a demonstration for peace.
Before a noun, alde takes -ko.
- Bizikleta hormaren kontra utzi dut.
I have left the bike against the wall.
kontra can also describe physical contact.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the genitive.
Legea alde nago.Legearen alde nago.alde, aurka and kontra follow a noun in the genitive: -aren after the article, -en for plurals.
Using the plain pronoun.
Zu alde nago.Zure alde nago.With pronouns, use the possessive forms: nire, zure, haren, gure, zuen, haien.
Forgetting -ko before a noun.
Gerraren aurka legea onartu dute.Gerraren aurkako legea onartu dute.When the phrase describes a following noun, it needs -ko: gerraren aurkako legea, bakearen aldeko manifestazioa.
How It Connects
Learn This First
For and against need the genitive.
Related Patterns
- nire / zure / haren / gure / zuen / haienPossessive Pronouns
The possessive forms used with pronouns: zure alde, nire aurka.
Level 1 - Phrase + -ko + NounLinking Phrases with -ko
The -ko that turns these phrases into noun modifiers: aurkako, aldeko.
Level 3 - gainean / azpian / ondoan / aurrean / atzeanLocation Words
Other postpositions that follow a genitive noun.
Level 2 - -(r)engatik / -(r)i eskerBecause of, Thanks to
Other postpositional expressions of cause and support; -(r)engatik also builds on the genitive.
Level 3 - -(r)en araberaAccording to
Another postposition that always follows the genitive.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice -(r)en alde / -(r)en aurka in Bubblegum
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