balitzait / litzaidake
If It Happened to Me
Imagined events that happen to someone use balitzait (if it ... to me) and litzaidake (it would ... to me): Ahaztuko balitzaizu, deitu (If you should forget, call), Gustatuko litzaioke (He would like it).
How It Works
1. From the present. Start from zait, zaizu, zaio:
- the "if" form adds ba- and li-: zait → balitzait
- the "would" form has li- and -ke: zait → litzaidake
2. The forms.
- to me: balitzait, litzaidake
- to you: balitzaizu, litzaizuke
- to him or her: balitzaio, litzaioke
- to us: balitzaigu, litzaiguke
- to you all: balitzaizue, litzaizueke
- to them: balitzaie, litzaieke
When several things happen, add -zki-, as in zaizkit: balitzaizkit, litzaizkidake.
3. In a sentence. For an imagined present or future event, the main verb takes -ko, like other hypothetical conditions: Liburu hau gustatuko balitzaizu, beste bat ekarriko nizuke. (If you liked this book, I would bring you another one.) The result can also be a command: Ahaztuko balitzaizu, deitu. (If you should forget, call.) For something that did not happen in the past, the participle is used instead: ahaztu balitzaizu (if you had forgotten).
4. Polite wishes. The "would" form is very common alone: Gustatuko litzaidake. (I would like that.) See gustatuko litzaidake.
Tip: The person it happens to is niri, zuri, hari, and that person must show up in the verb too: niri ... litzaidake.
Examples (6)
- Ahaztuko balitzaizu, deitu.
If you should forget, call.
balitzaizu: if it happened to you.
- Gustatuko litzaioke.
He would like it.
litzaioke: it would ... to him. It can also mean "She would like it".
- Liburu hau gustatuko balitzaizu, beste bat ekarriko nizuke.
If you liked this book, I would bring you another one.
- Autoa apurtuko balitzaigu, oinez joango ginateke.
If our car broke down, we would go on foot.
balitzaigu: if it happened to us.
- Ez litzaidake axola.
I wouldn't mind.
From ez zait axola (I don't mind).
- Liburu hauek gustatuko litzaizkizuke.
You would like these books.
Several books, so -zki-.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the person out of the verb.
Niri gustatuko litzateke.Niri gustatuko litzaidake.gustatu needs a nor-nori form. litzateke has no "to me" in it, so use litzaidake.
Forgetting -zki- for several things.
Liburu hauek gustatuko litzaidake.Liburu hauek gustatuko litzaizkidake.When the things you like are plural, the verb takes -zki-: litzaizkidake.
Using the "would" form after ba-.
Ahaztuko balitzaizuke, deitu.Ahaztuko balitzaizu, deitu.The if-clause never has -ke. -ke belongs only in the "would" part.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Hypothetical nor-nori follows both.
Related Patterns
- zait / zaizu / zaioHappening to Someone (Zait, Zaizu, Zaio)
The present forms these are built from.
Level 2 - banintz / banuIf I Were, If I Had
The same if-clauses without a dative.
Level 3 - nintzateke / nukeWould: Nintzateke, Nuke
The same "would" forms without a dative.
Level 3 - zaizkitSeveral Things Happening to Someone
Explains the -zki- in litzaizkidake.
Level 2 - banio / niokeIf I Gave It to Him
The same forms when someone does something to a receiver.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice balitzait / litzaidake in Bubblegum
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