Phrase + -ko + Noun
Linking Phrases with -ko
Liburua mahai gainean dago. (The book is on the table.) Mahai gaineko liburua gorria da. (The book on the table is red.) With -ko, the phrase describes the noun.
How It Works
From verb to noun. Most place and time phrases describe the action of a verb: Liburua mahai gainean dago. To make the same phrase describe a noun, Basque adds -ko. The whole phrase then comes before the noun, and the noun takes the article and any case ending:
- mahai gaineko liburua (the book on the table)
- etxe aurreko parkea (the park in front of the house)
- ibaiaren ondoko etxeak (the houses next to the river)
How it attaches.
- After the inessive -n, the -n drops: gainean → gaineko, aurrean → aurreko. This is how the local genitive -ko and the location words combine.
- After -ra: Bilborako trena (the train to Bilbao); see -rako.
- After -raino and -rantz: Erromarainoko bidaia (the trip as far as Rome), etxeranzko bidea (the way towards home). Note that tz becomes z before -ko.
- After -(r)entzat: zuretzako oparia (the present for you).
- After -z: euskarari buruzko liburua (a book about Basque); see about: -(r)i buruz and -z.
- After time words: atzoko bilera (yesterday's meeting); see -ko with time words.
A longer option. A relative clause says the same thing with a verb: mahai gainean dagoen liburua (the book that is on the table). The -ko form is shorter and very common.
For choosing between -ko and -(r)en, see -ko or -(r)en.
Examples (6)
- Mahai gaineko liburua nirea da.
The book on the table is mine.
gainean + -ko = gaineko; the phrase comes before liburua.
- Etxe aurreko parkean jolasten dira umeak.
The children play in the park in front of the house.
The case ending -n goes on the noun parkea, not on the -ko phrase.
- Bilborako trena berandu dator.
The train to Bilbao is running late.
-ra + -ko = -rako.
- Zuretzako opari bat daukat.
I have a present for you.
zuretzat + -ko = zuretzako.
- Euskarari buruzko liburu bat irakurtzen ari naiz.
I am reading a book about Basque.
buruz + -ko = buruzko.
- Atzoko bilera luzea izan zen.
Yesterday's meeting was long.
Common Mistakes
Putting the article on the -ko phrase before the noun.
Mahai gainekoa liburua nirea da.Mahai gaineko liburua nirea da.Before a noun, the -ko phrase takes no article; the article goes on the noun at the end: mahai gaineko liburua. Only when it stands alone does it take the article: Mahai gainekoa nirea da (The one on the table is mine).
Keeping the -n of the inessive before -ko.
Mahai gaineanko liburua gorria da.Mahai gaineko liburua gorria da.The inessive -n drops before -ko: gainean becomes gaineko, aurrean becomes aurreko.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Adnominal -ko follows the local genitive.
Related Patterns
- gainean / azpian / ondoan / aurrean / atzeanLocation Words
Location words that most often take -ko: gaineko, azpiko, ondoko.
Level 2 - Time Word + -koTime with -ko
The same -ko on time words: atzoko, gaurko.
Level 2 - -rakoFor and by: -rako
Gives Bilborako trena and etxerako tresnak.
Level 3 - -ko / -(r)en-ko or -(r)en?
When to link nouns with -ko and when with -(r)en.
Level 3 - -(e)nRelative Clauses
A longer way to say the same thing: mahai gainean dagoen liburua.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Phrase + -ko + Noun in Bubblegum
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