-tzearren

Just to: -tzearren

Level 5

Zu ikustearren etorri naiz. (I came just to see you.) -tzearren names the reason someone does something, with extra weight on the motive.

How It Works

1. The form. Take the form used in the verbal noun -tzea and add -arren, with a double r:

  • ikusi → ikuste- → ikustearren
  • aurreztu → aurrezte- → aurreztearren
  • lagundu → laguntze- → laguntzearren
  • ez galdu → ez galtzearren (so as not to lose)

With a single r, ikustearen is a different word: the genitive, "of seeing".

2. A motive or goal. It answers "what for?" and often shows that the goal was worth the effort: Edozer emango nuke hori ikustearren. (I would give anything to see that.) For a plain purpose, -tzeko is the everyday choice: Hori ikusteko etorri naiz.

3. Contrasts. It is common in "not this, but that" sentences: Ez dut dirua irabaztearren egiten, jendeari laguntzearren baizik. See baizik.

4. A cause. Like -tzeagatik, it can also give the reason for something that already happened: Marka ontzearren, sari handia eman diote. (They gave her a big prize for breaking the record.) Compare because of: -(r)engatik, -(r)i esker.

5. Not the same as arren. After the participle, arren means "although": Zu ikusi arren means "although I saw you". See although: arren and nahiz eta. Keep the verbal noun for "just to": zu ikustearren.

Examples (6)

  1. Zu ikustearren etorri naiz.

    I came just to see you.

  2. Denbora aurreztearren, taxia hartu genuen.

    To save time, we took a taxi.

  3. Edozer emango nuke hori ikustearren.

    I would give anything to see that.

  4. Lana ez galtzearren, isilik egon zen.

    So as not to lose his job, he kept quiet.

  5. Ez dut dirua irabaztearren egiten, jendeari laguntzearren baizik.

    I do not do it to earn money, but to help people.

  6. Marka ontzearren, sari handia eman diote.

    They gave her a big prize for breaking the record.

    Here -tzearren gives a cause, like -tzeagatik.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the participle with arren.

    Zu ikusi arren etorri naiz.
    Zu ikustearren etorri naiz.

    If you mean "I came just to see you", ikusi arren is the wrong form: it means "although I saw you". For a motive, use the verbal noun: ikustearren.

  • Writing a single r.

    Zu ikustearen etorri naiz.
    Zu ikustearren etorri naiz.

    ikustearen is the genitive, "of seeing". The purpose ending has a double r: -tzearren.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-tzearrenLevel 5Just to: -tzearren

Learn This First

-tzearren follows -tzeko and -(r)engatik.