baldin
If Indeed: Baldin
Baldin eta etortzen bada, esango diot. (If he does come, I will tell him.) baldin marks the condition, and the verb still carries ba-.
How It Works
1. Where it goes. Put it at the start of the clause, or right before the verb:
- Baldin eta etortzen bada, esango diot.
- Komeni baldin bada, bihar deituko dizut.
The eta is optional. It does not mean "and" here.
2. The verb keeps ba-. baldin never works alone. The conjugated verb always has ba-: bada, badakizu, bagara.
3. Real and imagined conditions. It works with both kinds: Baldin eta garaiz iristen bagara (if we get there in time) and hypothetical ones like Baldin eta dirua banu (if I had the money).
4. Why use it. In a long sentence, baldin tells the listener early that a condition is coming, before they reach the verb at the end. In everyday speech, plain ba- is enough: Etortzen bada, esango diot.
5. Not for "whether". English "if" can also mean "whether". baldin only introduces conditions. For "I do not know if he will come", use -(e)n or ea: Ez dakit etorriko den.
Examples (6)
- Baldin eta etortzen bada, esango diot.
If he does come, I will tell him.
- Baldin badakizu, esan.
If you know, say so.
- Komeni baldin bada, bihar deituko dizut.
If it is convenient, I will call you tomorrow.
baldin can come right before the ba- verb.
- Baldin eta garaiz iristen bagara, sarrerak erosiko ditugu.
If we get there in time, we will buy the tickets.
- Baldin eta dirua banu, etxe hau erosiko nuke.
If I had the money, I would buy this house.
- Baldin eta bihar euririk egiten ez badu, mendira joango gara.
If it does not rain tomorrow, we will go to the mountains.
Common Mistakes
Using baldin without ba-.
Baldin eta etortzen da, esango diot.Baldin eta etortzen bada, esango diot.baldin only strengthens the condition. The verb must still have ba-: bada.
Using baldin for "whether".
Ez dakit baldin etorriko den.Ez dakit etorriko den.Here "if" means "whether", which is an indirect question, not a condition. Use the -(e)n form, with or without ea, and no baldin.
How It Connects
Learn This First
baldin follows if ba-.
Related Patterns
- banintz / banuIf I Were, If I Had
baldin also strengthens imagined conditions.
Level 3 - ba-Affirmative Ba-
A different ba-: it affirms a verb, it does not make a condition.
Level 2 - ea ... -(e)nWhether (Ea)
Use ea or -(e)n for "whether", not baldin.
Level 3 - ba- ... ereEven if
Another ba- clause, for conditions that do not change the result.
Level 4 - ezeanUnless, Without: Ezean
A non-conjugated way to say "if not" or "unless".
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice baldin in Bubblegum
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