argitaratua da
Passive-Like Participles
Add -a (one) or -ak (more than one) to the participle and use izan: Liburua 1990ean argitaratua da (The book was published in 1990). Careful style usually prefers argitaratu zen.
How It Works
1. The form. Participle + -a / -ak + izan, like a predicate adjective with -a:
- Liburua argitaratua da. (The book is published.)
- Liburuak argitaratuak dira. (The books are published.)
- Kanporatuak izan ziren. (They were expelled.)
2. Naming the doer. Use the ergative -k: Hori alkateak esana da. The instrumental -z also appears in older texts (deabruaz tentatua), but the ergative is the better choice.
3. Not -tik or -gandik. Copying Spanish por or English by with -tik or -gandik is a mistake: say Herriko biztanle guztiek ikusi zuten, not *biztanle guztiengandik ikusia izan zen.
4. Prefer the active. Grammars and style guides do not ban the passive, but they recommend the active form because it gives the information more directly:
- Kanporatuak izan ziren → Kanporatu zituzten (They expelled them.)
- Liburua 1990ean argitaratua da → Liburua 1990ean argitaratu zen
5. Look-alikes that are not passives.
- Ni gauza asko ikusia naiz (I have seen many things): the subject is the one who saw. This use is literary and mostly Northern; everyday Standard Basque says Gauza asko ikusi ditut.
- Atea itxita dago (The door is closed): a state with egon. See states with -ta and -rik and resultative: egina dut, eginda daukat.
- Atea ireki da (The door opened): see anticausative: atea ireki da.
Tip: When you write, first try the active verb. Keep the -a da form for a result or state that matters more than the action.
Examples (6)
- Liburua 1990ean argitaratua da.
The book was published in 1990.
Participle + -a + da: a formal way to state a result.
- Liburua 1990ean argitaratu zen.
The book was published in 1990.
The plain past, which careful style usually prefers.
- Hori alkateak esana da.
That was said by the mayor.
The doer alkatea takes the ergative -k.
- Etxe hauek XVIII. mendean eginak dira.
These houses were built in the 18th century.
The subject is plural, so the participle takes -ak.
- Jokalariak kanporatuak izan ziren.
The players were sent off.
A past passive; the active kanporatu zituzten is more usual.
- Ni gauza asko ikusia naiz.
I have seen many things.
Not a passive: the subject ni is the one who saw. This is a literary, mostly Northern use; everyday speech says gauza asko ikusi ditut.
Common Mistakes
Marking the doer with -gandik or -tik.
Herriko biztanle guztiengandik ikusia izan zen.Herriko biztanle guztiek ikusi zuten.Basque does not mark the doer with -gandik or -tik. Use the ergative (biztanle guztiek), and preferably an active verb.
Leaving the participle singular with a plural subject.
Liburuak 1990ean argitaratua dira.Liburuak 1990ean argitaratuak dira.The participle agrees like a predicate adjective: liburuak ... argitaratuak dira.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Passive-like participles follow resultatives.
Related Patterns
- Adjective + -a + izanDescribing with Izan
The participle takes -a/-ak like a predicate adjective.
Level 1 - -tu / -i / -nThe Dictionary Form of Verbs
The participle is the base of the pattern.
Level 1 - -kThe Ergative Case -k
The doer, if named, goes in the ergative.
Level 1 - -ta / -rikDescribing States: Nekatuta Nago
egon + -ta/-rik describes a state without a passive meaning.
Level 2 - atea ireki daOpening and Being Opened
An intransitive verb with izan that has no doer at all.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
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