-tzekoa izan
Meant to, Supposed to
-tzekoa + izan means "supposed to" or "meant for": Atzo etortzekoa zen (He was supposed to come yesterday), Hau ez da jatekoa (This is not for eating).
How It Works
1. Formation. verbal noun stem + -ko + -a:
- etorri → etortzekoa
- jan → jatekoa
- joan → joatekoa
- harritu → harritzekoa
For more than one person or thing, use -ak: joatekoak gara.
2. A plan: supposed to.
- Atzo etortzekoa zen. (He was supposed to come yesterday.)
- Bihar joatekoak gara. (We are due to go tomorrow.)
In the past it often means the plan did not happen: Etortzekoa nintzen, baina ez nuen denborarik izan. (I was going to come, but I did not have time.) Compare etorriko zen, which just says what was going to happen.
3. Purpose: meant for. It says what something is for, like jateko gauzak:
- Hau ez da jatekoa. (This is not for eating.)
- Ura edatekoa da? (Is the water for drinking?)
4. A common phrase. Ez da harritzekoa means "It is no surprise": Ez da harritzekoa nekatuta egotea. (It is no surprise that he is tired.) You will also see ez da harritzeko, without -a, with the same meaning.
Tip: -tzekoa is a plan or a purpose, not an obligation. For "must", use behar izan.
Examples (6)
- Atzo etortzekoa zen.
He was supposed to come yesterday.
etortzeko + -a with zen. It can also mean "She was supposed to come".
- Hau ez da jatekoa.
This is not for eating.
jan → jatekoa.
- Bihar joatekoak gara.
We are due to go tomorrow.
Plural -ak to agree with gara.
- Etortzekoa nintzen, baina ez nuen denborarik izan.
I was going to come, but I didn't have time.
The plan did not happen.
- Ura edatekoa da?
Is the water for drinking?
- Ez da harritzekoa nekatuta egotea.
It is no surprise that he is tired.
A fixed phrase: ez da harritzekoa.
Common Mistakes
Leaving off the article -a.
Atzo etortzeko zen.Atzo etortzekoa zen.To say what was planned, the form takes the article: etortzekoa zen.
Forgetting plural agreement.
Bihar joatekoa gara.Bihar joatekoak gara.With gara (we), the form must be plural: joatekoak.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Meant to follows -tzeko with nouns.
Related Patterns
- -tzekoIn Order to: -tzeko
The -tzeko form this is built from.
Level 2 - -tzeaDoing as a Noun: -tzea
Gives the stem: etortze-, jate-.
Level 2 - etorriko zenWould: The Future in the Past
Another way to talk about a plan in the past.
Level 4 - behar izanMust: Behar Dut
Use behar for must; -tzekoa is only a plan or purpose.
Level 2 - -tzekotanOn Condition That
Another -tzeko form, meaning on condition that.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice -tzekoa izan in Bubblegum
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