behar izan

Must: Behar Dut

Level 2

Joan behar dut means I have to go. Laguntza behar dut means I need help. behar uses the dut auxiliary.

How It Works

Must, have to. Use the participle + behar + a form of ukan:

  • Joan behar dut. (I have to go.)
  • Lan egin behar dugu. (We have to work.)
  • Zer egin behar dut? (What do I have to do?)

Usually dut. In Standard Basque, behar takes dut, duzu, du... even with verbs that normally use naiz: Etxera joan behar dut, Goiz jaiki behar dugu. Northern speakers may say joan behar naiz, and the Academy accepts that too, but dut is the usual choice.

One exception. Verbs that take zait, zaizu, zaio, like ahaztu (forget), keep that auxiliary with behar: Ez zaizu ahaztu behar (You must not forget it).

Plural objects. The auxiliary agrees with the object of the main verb: Liburu hauek irakurri behar ditut (I have to read these books). See ditut, dituzu, ditu.

Need. With a noun, behar means need: Laguntza behar dut (I need help), Bi txartel behar ditut (I need two tickets). In the negative, use the partitive -(r)ik: Ez dut dirurik behar (I do not need any money).

Negative. As in any negative sentence, ez and the auxiliary come first and behar goes last: Ez duzu ordaindu behar (You do not have to pay).

Other tenses. beharko dut means I will have to: Bihar goiz jaiki beharko dugu. behar izan dut means I have had to. For should, see beharko zenuke.

Impersonal. behar da with no named doer means it must be done: Hori egin behar da (That has to be done).

Examples (6)

  1. Joan behar dut.

    I have to go.

    joan normally takes naiz, but with behar the auxiliary is dut.

  2. Ez duzu ordaindu behar.

    You do not have to pay.

    In the negative, ez duzu comes first and behar goes last.

  3. Laguntza behar dut.

    I need help.

    With a noun, behar means need.

  4. Liburu hauek irakurri behar ditut.

    I have to read these books.

    ditut agrees with the plural object.

  5. Bihar goiz jaiki beharko dugu.

    We will have to get up early tomorrow.

    beharko is the future of behar.

  6. Zer behar duzu?

    What do you need?

Common Mistakes

  • Putting behar right after ez.

    Ez behar dut joan.
    Ez dut joan behar.

    In a negative sentence the auxiliary follows ez directly. The participle and behar come after it.

  • Forgetting the plural auxiliary with a plural object.

    Liburu hauek irakurri behar dut.
    Liburu hauek irakurri behar ditut.

    The auxiliary agrees with the object of the main verb. liburu hauek is plural, so use ditut.

  • Using naiz when behar has a noun object.

    Laguntza behar naiz.
    Laguntza behar dut.

    behar with a noun means need, and it always takes dut, duzu, du...

How It Connects

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

behar izanLevel 2Must: Behar Dut

Learn This First

behar follows nahi.

Words in This Pattern

behar izanbehar