zenbat

How Much, How Many (Zenbat)

Level 1

zenbat means "how much" or "how many": Zenbat da? (How much is it?)

How It Works

zenbat covers both English "how much" and "how many".

On its own. Zenbat da? (How much is it?) Zenbat kostatzen da? (How much does it cost?)

Before a noun. zenbat comes first and the noun follows without an article, just as with numbers: zenbat liburu, not zenbat liburuak.

Verb agreement. When you count separate things, the verb is usually plural: Zenbat anai-arreba dituzu? (How many brothers and sisters do you have?) Zenbat ikasle daude gelan? (How many students are in the class?) See dituzu. For an amount of something you cannot count, the verb stays singular: Zenbat diru behar duzu? (How much money do you need?)

Asking age. Basque "has" years: Zenbat urte dituzu? (How old are you?) See saying your age.

Position. The whole phrase, zenbat plus its noun, goes directly before the verb.

Examples (6)

  1. Zenbat da?

    How much is it?

  2. Zenbat anai-arreba dituzu?

    How many brothers and sisters do you have?

    Several people, so the plural dituzu.

  3. Zenbat urte dituzu?

    How old are you?

    Word by Word: How-many years you-have?

  4. Zenbat diru behar duzu?

    How much money do you need?

    Money is an amount, so the verb stays singular.

  5. Zenbat ikasle daude gelan?

    How many students are in the class?

  6. Zenbat kostatzen da?

    How much does it cost?

Common Mistakes

  • Adding the plural article after zenbat.

    Zenbat liburuak dituzu?
    Zenbat liburu dituzu?

    The noun after zenbat stays bare, without -a or -ak.

How It Connects

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zenbatLevel 1How Much, How Many (Zenbat)

Learn This First

zenbat needs zer and the numbers.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

zenbatzenbat