gainera / izan ere / hau da
Moreover, In Fact, That Is
gainera adds a point (moreover), izan ere gives the reason (the thing is), and hau da explains more clearly (that is): Ez naiz joango; izan ere, gaixorik nago (I am not going; the thing is, I am ill).
How It Works
gainera: moreover, besides. It adds a new point, often a stronger one: Merkea da, eta gainera, oso ona (It is cheap, and what is more, very good). It can start the clause or follow its first word: Berandu da; gainera, euria ari du. To add one item inside the clause, use -z gain instead: horretaz gain.
izan ere: the thing is, after all. The second sentence explains or backs up the first: Ez naiz joango; izan ere, gaixorik nago. The order is fixed: first the statement, then izan ere and the reason. It says much the same as -lako, but the reason stays a full sentence of its own: Ez naiz joango, gaixorik nagoelako. izan ere can also confirm something at the end: Hala da, izan ere (That is how it is, indeed).
hau da: that is, in other words. It restates or makes something more exact: Bihar, hau da, ostiralean (Tomorrow, that is, on Friday). It is a fixed phrase with hau, not hori. alegia means the same thing and usually comes after the words it explains: ostiralean, alegia. Formal writing also uses hots.
Punctuation. A semicolon or full stop usually comes before gainera and izan ere, and a comma after them. hau da sits between commas.
Examples (6)
- Merkea da, eta gainera, oso ona.
It is cheap, and what is more, very good.
- Berandu da; gainera, euria ari du.
It is late; besides, it is raining.
- Ez naiz joango; izan ere, gaixorik nago.
I am not going; the thing is, I am ill.
izan ere introduces the reason.
- Anek ondo daki euskaraz; izan ere, Donostian hazi zen.
Ane knows Basque well; after all, she grew up in Donostia.
- Bihar, hau da, ostiralean, bilera dugu.
Tomorrow, that is, on Friday, we have a meeting.
- Euskadin bi hizkuntza ofizial daude, hau da, euskara eta gaztelania.
In the Basque Autonomous Community there are two official languages, namely Basque and Spanish.
Common Mistakes
Using izan ere to introduce a result.
Gaixorik nago; izan ere, ez naiz joango.Gaixorik nago; beraz, ez naiz joango.izan ere introduces the reason for what was just said. For a result, use beraz. You can also keep izan ere and swap the order: Ez naiz joango; izan ere, gaixorik nago.
Saying hori da instead of hau da.
Bihar, hori da, ostiralean, bilera dugu.Bihar, hau da, ostiralean, bilera dugu.The connector for that is is the fixed phrase hau da. hori da is an ordinary sentence meaning that is it.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Moreover follows the linking words.
Related Patterns
- -z gainBesides
Adds one item inside a clause, where gainera adds a whole new point.
Level 4 - aldiz / berrizOn the Other Hand
Connectors for contrast, which usually go after the contrasted word.
Level 4 - -lakoBecause: -lako
Another way to give a reason, with the reason inside one sentence.
Level 2 - -(e)nezAs, Since: -(e)nez
Gives a reason that the listener already knows, placed before the main clause.
Level 3 - hortaz / halaber / dena denFormal Connectors
More formal connectors for writing, such as hortaz and halaber.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice gainera / izan ere / hau da in Bubblegum
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