-(r)iko

Participles in -riko

Level 5

-tako and -(r)iko both make a participle describe a noun: aitonak idatzitako liburua = aitonak idatziriko liburua (the book Grandpa wrote). -(r)iko is common in careful writing and literature.

How It Works

1. Forming it.

  • Participles ending in a vowel add -riko: aipatu → aipaturiko, idatzi → idatziriko, etorri → etorririko, hartu → harturiko
  • Participles ending in a consonant add -iko: egin → eginiko, esan → esaniko, eman → emaniko

2. Same meaning as -tako. Both describe a noun with a finished action: atzo hartutako erabakia = atzo harturiko erabakia (the decision taken yesterday). You can always use -tako instead.

3. Where it is used. Everyday southern speech mostly uses -tako. The -(r)iko form is found in Bizkaian and Navarrese texts, and it is very common in written standard Basque: newspapers, essays, literature and grammar books. Northern texts also use the longer -(r)ikako (etorririkako) or the bare participle.

4. Without a noun. Like -tako, it can stand alone with the article: aipaturikoa (the one mentioned), esanikoak (the things said).

5. Do not confuse it with the future. Idatziko du means "he or she will write". Idatziriko liburua means "the book that was written".

Examples (5)

  1. Aitonak idatziriko liburua mahai gainean dago.

    The book Grandpa wrote is on the table.

  2. Aipaturiko arazoa ez da oraindik konpondu.

    The problem mentioned has not been solved yet.

  3. Atzo harturiko erabakiak bihar argitaratuko dira.

    The decisions taken yesterday will be published tomorrow.

  4. Mundu osotik etorririko ikasleak ditugu.

    We have students who have come from all over the world.

  5. Euskaltzaindiak eginiko hiztegia sarean dago.

    The dictionary made by Euskaltzaindia is online.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the future form instead of -riko.

    Aitonak idatziko liburua mahai gainean dago.
    Aitonak idatziriko liburua mahai gainean dago.

    idatziko is the future ("will write"). A finished action needs idatziriko or idatzitako.

  • Adding -r- after a consonant.

    Eginriko lana oso ona da.
    Eginiko lana oso ona da.

    egin ends in n, so it takes -iko, just as it says eginik.

  • Leaving out the -r- after a vowel.

    Aipatuiko arazoa larria da.
    Aipaturiko arazoa larria da.

    aipatu ends in a vowel, so it takes -riko, just as it says aipaturik.

How It Connects

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

-(r)ikoLevel 5Participles in -riko

Learn This First

The -(r)iko modifier combines a state participle with -ko and can be compared with -tako.