nion / zidan
Past of Giving and Telling
To say who gave or told something to whom in the past: nion (I to him or her), zidan (he or she to me), nizun (I to you).
How It Works
Common forms.
- To him or her: nion (I), zenion (you), zion (he or she), genion (we), zenioten (you all), zioten (they)
- To me: zenidan (you), zidan (he or she), zidaten (they)
- To you: nizun (I), zizun (he or she), genizun (we), zizuten (they)
- To us: zenigun (you), zigun (he or she), ziguten (they)
- To them: nien (I), zien (he or she), genien (we)
How to read them. Take zidan: z- (he or she gave) + -i- + -da- (to me) + -n (past). Now nizun: n- (I) + -i- + -zu- (to you) + -n. The receiver also takes the dative -(r)i in the sentence: Aitonari ez genion ezer esan (We didn't tell Grandpa anything).
What it is for. These are the past forms of Giving and Telling, used with eman (give), esan (tell), bidali (send), erakutsi (show), ekarri (bring) and similar verbs.
Plural objects and receivers. When the thing given is plural, -zki- is added: nizkion. For a plural receiver the ending is -e-: nien. See Several Things, Several Receivers.
Examples (6)
- Liburua eman nion.
I gave him the book.
nion: I gave it to him or her.
- Anek egia esan zidan.
Ane told me the truth.
zidan: he or she to me.
- Atzo mezu bat bidali nizun.
I sent you a message yesterday.
- Zer esan zizun medikuak?
What did the doctor tell you?
- Gurasoek bizikleta bat oparitu ziguten.
Our parents gave us a bike.
- Aitonari ez genion ezer esan.
We didn't tell Grandpa anything.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the receiver out of the verb.
Hari liburua eman nuen.Hari liburua eman nion.When there is a receiver (hari), the verb must show it: nion, not nuen.
Mixing up who gave to whom.
Anek egia esan nion.Anek egia esan zidan.nion means I told him or her. When Ane tells you, the form is zidan: he or she to me.
Using the zu form for several people.
Zuek zer esan zenion irakasleari?Zuek zer esan zenioten irakasleari?zenion is for zu. For zuek, add -te-: zenioten.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Past giving follows present giving and ukan past.
Related Patterns
- -(r)iTo Someone: -(r)i
The receiver in the sentence takes the dative ending.
Level 2 - dizkiot / dietSeveral Things, Several Receivers
How the forms change for a plural object or a plural receiver.
Level 3 - etorri nintzen / ikusi nuenThe Simple Past
The simple past that these forms serve as auxiliaries for.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice nion / zidan in Bubblegum
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