-(r)en ordez / beharrean
Instead of
To say instead of with a noun, use the genitive plus ordez: Kafearen ordez tea hartuko dut (I will have tea instead of coffee). With an action, put beharrean after the participle: Lan egin beharrean, lo egin du (Instead of working, he has slept).
How It Works
With nouns: -(r)en ordez.
- Kafearen ordez tea hartuko dut. (I will have tea instead of coffee.)
- Mikelen ordez, bere anaia etorri da. (Instead of Mikel, his brother has come.)
- Nire ordez joango zara? (Will you go in my place?) With pronouns, use nire, zure and so on.
With actions: participle + beharrean or ordez. Use the bare participle, not the -tzen form: Autoa hartu beharrean, oinez joango gara (Instead of taking the car, we will walk). Barkamena eskatu ordez, oihuka hasi zen (Instead of apologizing, he started shouting).
Watch out for beharrean. It comes from behar (need), and it has other uses:
- After a noun it means in need of: lo beharrean (in need of sleep), Nire beharrean bazaude, deitu (If you need me, call).
- Participle + beharrean + egon means to have to: Gutun batzuk idatzi beharrean nago (I have to write some letters).
So for instead of with a noun, choose ordez. Western Basque also uses barik in this sense: Mendira joan barik, etxean geratu ziren (Instead of going to the mountains, they stayed at home).
Examples (6)
- Kafearen ordez tea hartuko dut.
I will have tea instead of coffee.
- Lan egin beharrean, lo egin du.
Instead of working, he has slept.
beharrean follows the participle egin.
- Mikelen ordez, bere anaia etorri da.
Instead of Mikel, his brother has come.
- Autoa hartu beharrean, oinez joango gara.
Instead of taking the car, we will walk.
- Nire ordez joango zara?
Will you go in my place?
With a pronoun, use the possessive: nire ordez.
- Ikasi ordez, jolasean aritu da.
Instead of studying, he has been playing.
ordez can also follow a participle.
Common Mistakes
Using the -tzen form before beharrean.
Lan egiten beharrean, lo egin du.Lan egin beharrean, lo egin du.beharrean and ordez follow the bare participle: egin, hartu, ikasi.
Using beharrean after a noun to mean instead of.
Kafearen beharrean tea hartuko dut.Kafearen ordez tea hartuko dut.After a noun, beharrean means in need of, so the sentence would say that you need coffee. With a noun, use ordez for instead of.
Putting ordez before the noun.
Ordez kafea, tea hartuko dut.Kafearen ordez, tea hartuko dut.ordez is a postposition: it comes after the noun, which takes the genitive.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Instead of needs the genitive and the participle.
Related Patterns
- behar izanMust: Behar Dut
behar (need), the word beharrean comes from, and the source of its other meanings.
Level 2 - -tu gabeWithout Doing
Another postposition that follows the bare participle.
Level 3 - baizikNot X but Y: Baizik
Another way to contrast two options: not this, but that.
Level 3 - gisaAs, In the Role of
A later postposition for in the role of, which can look similar to in place of.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice -(r)en ordez / beharrean in Bubblegum
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