eginen / ukan
Northern Verb Forms
Northern speakers and writers form the future of participles ending in -n with -en: eginen dut (I will do it), izanen da (it will be). In the South these are egingo dut and izango da.
How It Works
1. The future after -n. The future -ko/-go becomes -go after -n in the South. The North adds -en instead:
- egingo / eginen (will do)
- izango / izanen (will be)
- joango / joanen (will go)
- jakingo / jakinen (will know)
- emango / emanen (will give)
- entzungo / entzunen (will hear)
2. -ko stays after other endings. A participle ending in a vowel, such as -i or -tu, takes -ko in the North too. Euskaltzaindia's handbook quotes a Northern sentence with both: Eneganat etorriko zarenean, ene barne guziak bozkarioz gaindi eginen du. (When you come to me, my whole heart will overflow with joy.)
3. ukan. Southern Basque uses izan as the participle of both "be" (izan naiz) and "have" (izan dut). The North keeps a separate participle for "have": ukan, marked Northern in Euskaltzaindia's dictionary.
- Arazo handiak ukan ditugu = izan ditugu (We have had big problems).
- Denbora ukanen duzu = izango duzu (You will have time).
Ukan only replaces the "have" izan. For "be", the North says izan naiz like the South. The name ukan is also what grammars call the dut, duzu, du auxiliary.
4. Where you will meet them. These forms are normal in Northern Basque texts and speech, and -en futures are also heard in parts of Navarre. Both sets are part of Euskara Batua, so you only need to recognize them.
Tip: When you read -nen at the end of a verb, think of -ngo.
Examples (6)
- Bihar eginen dut.
I will do it tomorrow.
In the South: Bihar egingo dut.
- Laster jakinen dugu.
We will know soon.
- Afaria zortzietan izanen da.
Dinner will be at eight.
- Arazo handiak ukan ditugu.
We have had big problems.
In the South: izan ditugu.
- Denbora ukanen duzu.
You will have time.
- Etorriko naiz eta lagunduko dizut.
I will come and help you.
etorri and lagundu end in a vowel, so the North uses -ko here too.
Common Mistakes
Adding -en to a participle that ends in a vowel.
Bihar etorrien naiz.Bihar etorriko naiz.Only participles ending in a consonant, almost always -n, take -en. etorri ends in the vowel -i, so its future is etorriko everywhere.
Using ukan for "be".
Goizean hemen ukan naiz.Goizean hemen izan naiz.ukan replaces izan only in the sense "to have", with du-type auxiliaries. For "be", with naiz, use izan.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Northern forms follow the future and ukan.
Related Patterns
- -tu / -i / -nThe Dictionary Form of Verbs
The participle ending decides whether -en is possible.
Level 1 - ukan: dut / duzu / duThe Verb to Have (Dut, Duzu, Du)
The auxiliary whose participle is ukan in the North.
Level 1 - The Basque Dialects
Where the Northern dialects are spoken.
Level 5 - Standard Basque (Euskara Batua)
Standard Basque accepts both the Northern and Southern forms.
Level 5 - ongi / hobeki / anitzNorthern Words
The Northern words that often appear with these verb forms.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
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