nengoen / zeunden / zegoen
Past of Egon
To say where someone was or how they were at the time, use the past of egon: nengoen (I was), zeunden, zegoen, geunden, zeundeten, zeuden.
How It Works
The forms.
- ni nengoen (I was)
- zu zeunden (you were)
- hura zegoen (he, she or it was)
- gu geunden (we were)
- zuek zeundeten (you all were)
- haiek zeuden (they were)
Where. Liburua mahai gainean zegoen (The book was on the table). See Location Words.
How someone was. With ondo, gaizki and states in -ta or -rik: Oso nekatuta geunden (We were very tired), Pozik zegoen (She was happy). See Describing States.
There was, there were. egon also says that something existed: Jende asko zegoen (There were a lot of people). jende is singular in Basque, so the verb is zegoen. A plural noun takes zeuden: Bi ume zeuden parkean. In a negative the noun takes -(r)ik: Ez zegoen ogirik (There was no bread).
Not for what someone was. A job, a name or a lasting quality takes the past of izan: Medikua zen (He was a doctor), not medikua zegoen. See Choosing izan or egon.
Regional note. In the Northern Basque Country izan is often used for place as well: Etxean nintzen. That is normal there; the standard taught here uses egon.
Examples (6)
- Atzo etxean nengoen.
Yesterday I was at home.
- Non zeunden?
Where were you?
- Oso nekatuta geunden.
We were very tired.
A state at that moment, so egon.
- Giltzak mahai gainean zeuden.
The keys were on the table.
giltzak is plural, so zeuden.
- Jende asko zegoen kalean.
There were a lot of people in the street.
jende is grammatically singular, so zegoen.
- Ez zegoen ogirik.
There was no bread.
Common Mistakes
Using zeunden for zuek.
Zuek non zeunden?Zuek non zeundeten?zeunden goes with zu. With zuek, several people, the form is zeundeten.
Using egon for a job.
Nire aita medikua zegoen.Nire aita medikua zen.What someone was, such as a job, takes izan: zen. egon is for place and passing states.
Mixing up the persons.
Gu oso nekatuta zeuden.Gu oso nekatuta geunden.zeuden is for haiek. With gu the form is geunden.
How It Connects
Learn This First
egon past follows egon present and izan past.
Related Patterns
- izan / egonChoosing Izan or Egon
Explains the choice between the two verbs, which stays the same in the past.
Level 1 - -ta / -rikDescribing States: Nekatuta Nago
States such as nekatuta and pozik go with egon in both present and past.
Level 2 - gainean / azpian / ondoan / aurrean / atzeanLocation Words
Location words often used with egon: mahai gainean zegoen.
Level 2 - egon naiz / izan naizHaving Been Somewhere
Shows egon in the present perfect for having been somewhere.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice nengoen / zeunden / zegoen in Bubblegum
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