banio / nioke
If I Gave It to Him
To imagine giving or telling something to someone, use banio (if I ... to him) and nioke (I would ... to him): Esango banio, haserretuko litzateke (If I told him, he would get angry).
How It Works
1. If ... to him or her.
- I: banio → I would: nioke
- you: bazenio → zenioke
- he or she: balio → lioke
- we: bagenio → genioke
- they: baliote → liokete
2. Other receivers.
- I to you: banizu → nizuke
- he to me: balit → lidake
- you to me: bazenit → zenidake
- I to them: banie → nieke
With several things, add -zki- as in dizkiot: banizkio, nizkioke.
3. In a sentence. For an imagined present or future action, the main verb takes -ko, as in other hypothetical conditions:
- Esango banio, haserretuko litzateke. (If I told him, he would get angry.)
- Galdetuko banizu, egia esango zenidake? (If I asked you, would you tell me the truth?)
- Dirua utziko balit, auto bat erosiko nuke. (If he lent me money, I would buy a car.)
4. Which verbs. Any verb that uses diot, dizut, dit: eman (give), esan (tell), galdetu (ask), utzi (lend), deitu (call), lagundu (help).
Tip: The if-part never has -ke, and the would-part never has ba-.
Examples (5)
- Esango banio, haserretuko litzateke.
If I told him, he would get angry.
banio: if I ... to him. It can also mean "If I told her, she would get angry".
- Deituko bazenio, pozik jarriko litzateke.
If you called her, she would be happy.
bazenio: if you ... to her.
- Galdetuko banizu, egia esango zenidake?
If I asked you, would you tell me the truth?
banizu: if I ... to you. zenidake: you would ... to me.
- Dirua utziko balit, auto bat erosiko nuke.
If he lent me money, I would buy a car.
balit: if he ... to me.
- Loreak emango bazenizkio, poztuko litzateke.
If you gave her flowers, she would be glad.
Several flowers, so -zki-.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the receiver.
Esango banu, haserretuko litzateke.Esango banio, haserretuko litzateke.Esango banu means "If I said it". To say "If I told him", the verb needs the receiver: banio.
Putting -ke in the if-clause.
Esango banioke, haserretuko litzateke.Esango banio, haserretuko litzateke.The if-clause uses banio. -ke belongs only in the "would" part, like nioke.
Using the if-form in the result.
Deituko bazenio, eskertuko balizu.Deituko bazenio, eskertuko lizuke.The result needs the "would" form lizuke, not another ba- form.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Hypothetical giving follows both.
Related Patterns
- diot / dizut / ditGiving and Telling
The present forms these are built from.
Level 2 - banintz / banuIf I Were, If I Had
The same if-clauses without a receiver.
Level 3 - balitzait / litzaidakeIf It Happened to Me
The if-forms for things that happen to someone.
Level 4 - dizkiot / dietSeveral Things, Several Receivers
Explains the -zki- in banizkio.
Level 3 - nion / zidanPast of Giving and Telling
Shares the ni-, zen- and -o shapes.
Level 3