etorri izan da
Have Done Before
Put izan between the participle and the auxiliary to say something has happened many times or has always been so: Askotan etorri izan da.
How It Works
1. The form. Participle + izan + the same auxiliary the verb normally takes:
- etorri da → etorri izan da
- esan dut → esan izan dut
- ikusi dugu → ikusi izan dugu
- egon naiz → egon izan naiz
Northern speakers also use ukan with transitive verbs: erran ukan dut.
2. What it means. It talks about life experience or about something repeated over time, up to today:
- Askotan etorri izan da hona. (He has often come here.)
- Hemen beti egon izan da denda bat. (There has always been a shop here.)
- Inoiz ikusi izan duzu horrelakorik? (Have you ever seen anything like that?)
3. Compare three forms.
- Etorri da. (He has come.) One event, usually recent. See the present perfect.
- Etortzen da. (He comes.) A habit now. See the present habitual.
- Etorri izan da. (He has come, many times over the years.)
4. Not for one dated event. For something that happened once at a known time, use the plain past: Atzo etorri zen. (He came yesterday.)
Tip: Words that count or repeat, like behin, bitan, hirutan and askotan, go well with this pattern.
Examples (5)
- Askotan etorri izan da hona.
He has often come here.
It can also mean "She has often come here".
- Hori askotan esan izan dut.
I have often said that.
- Hemen beti egon izan da denda bat.
There has always been a shop here.
- Inoiz ikusi izan duzu horrelakorik?
Have you ever seen anything like that?
- Gure etxean beti hitz egin izan dugu euskaraz.
At home we have always spoken Basque.
Common Mistakes
Changing the auxiliary because of izan.
Askotan etorri izan du hona.Askotan etorri izan da hona.Adding izan does not change the auxiliary. etorri takes da, so it stays da.
Putting izan before the participle.
Askotan izan etorri da hona.Askotan etorri izan da hona.The order is always participle, then izan, then the auxiliary.
Using it for one event at a known time.
Atzo etorri izan da.Atzo etorri zen.The intended meaning is a single visit yesterday. This pattern is for repeated or lifelong experience, so use the simple past.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Experiential izan follows the perfect.
Related Patterns
- -tzen + AuxiliaryThe Present Habitual
Habits now use -tzen, not participle + izan.
Level 1 - -tzen + Past AuxiliaryUsed to
Repeated actions in the past use -tzen with a past auxiliary.
Level 2 - behin / bitan / hirutanOnce, Twice, Three Times
Counting words often go with this pattern.
Level 3 - egon naiz / izan naizHaving Been Somewhere
Another pattern for having been somewhere or something.
Level 2 - ohiUsually: Ohi
ohi also talks about what usually happens.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice etorri izan da in Bubblegum
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