daiteke
It Can Be Done
daiteke with a verb like egin says it can be done: Hori egin daiteke. For no, say ezin da: Hemen ezin da erre (You cannot smoke here).
How It Works
The pattern. verb radical + daiteke: egin daiteke (it can be done), ikus daiteke (it can be seen), eros daiteke (it can be bought). The thing done has no -k. It is the subject of daiteke.
Plural. When the thing done is plural, use daitezke: Sarrerak Interneten eros daitezke (Tickets can be bought online).
Questions. This is a natural way to ask what is possible or allowed: Nola egin daiteke? (How can it be done?) Txartelarekin ordain daiteke? (Can you pay by card?)
Negatives. The most common negative is ezin da with the participle: Hemen ezin da erre (You cannot smoke here). See ezin.
Compare dezake. Hori egin daiteke (That can be done) names no doer. Hori egin dezake means he or she can do it: a particular person.
As with other potential forms, many Southern speakers use the participle (ikusi daiteke, erosi daiteke). Standard Basque recommends the radical (ikus daiteke).
Examples (6)
- Hori egin daiteke.
That can be done.
- Nola egin daiteke?
How can it be done?
- Hemendik itsasoa ikus daiteke.
You can see the sea from here.
ikus is the radical of ikusi.
- Txartelarekin ordain daiteke?
Can you pay by card?
- Sarrerak Interneten eros daitezke.
Tickets can be bought online.
Tickets is plural, so the form is daitezke.
- Hemen ezin da erre.
You cannot smoke here.
The everyday negative is ezin da.
Common Mistakes
Using dezake for can be done.
Hori egin dezake.Hori egin daiteke.dezake means he or she can do it. To say it can be done with no doer, use daiteke.
Using daiteke with a plural subject.
Sarrerak Interneten eros daiteke.Sarrerak Interneten eros daitezke.The tickets are the subject, and they are plural, so use daitezke.
Using ezin du for a general rule.
Hemen ezin du erre.Hemen ezin da erre.Ezin du erre means he or she cannot smoke. For a general rule with no doer, use ezin da.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Impersonal daiteke follows the potential.
Related Patterns
- egiten daHow Things Are Done
The same no-doer pattern with the ordinary auxiliary.
Level 3 - ezinCannot: Ezin
Gives the usual negative: ezin da.
Level 2 - The Verb Radical
How to form ikus, eros and ordain.
Level 3 - atea ireki daOpening and Being Opened
Another use of da with a transitive verb, where the doer disappears.
Level 4 - ahal izanCan: Ahal
Another way to ask if something can be done: Egin ahal da?
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice daiteke in Bubblegum
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