nahiago izan

Preferring: Nahiago Dut

Level 2

nahiago dut means I prefer: Tea nahiago dut. With a verb, it means I would rather: Etxean geratu nahiago dut.

How It Works

Where it comes from. nahiago is nahi (want) plus the comparative -ago. So nahiago dut means I want it more: I prefer.

With a noun. Tea nahiago dut (I prefer tea). The auxiliary agrees with the thing you prefer: Sagarrak nahiago ditut (I prefer apples).

With a verb. Put the participle before nahiago, as with nahi: Etxean geratu nahiago dut (I would rather stay at home). Like nahi, it keeps dut even with a verb such as geratu or joan.

Than: baino. The thing you like less comes with baino: Tea kafea baino nahiago dut (I prefer tea to coffee). With verbs: Etxean egon baino nahiago dut kalera irten (I would rather go out than stay at home).

Someone else. To prefer that someone else does something, use a -tzea phrase: Nahiago dut zu etortzea (I would prefer you to come). See nahi + -tzea.

Asking. Offer a choice with ala: Zer nahiago duzu, tea ala kafea?

Politer. nahiago nuke means I would rather; see nahi nuke.

Examples (6)

  1. Tea nahiago dut.

    I prefer tea.

  2. Etxean geratu nahiago dut.

    I would rather stay at home.

    The participle geratu comes before nahiago, and the auxiliary stays dut.

  3. Tea kafea baino nahiago dut.

    I prefer tea to coffee.

    baino follows the thing you like less.

  4. Zer nahiago duzu, tea ala kafea?

    Which do you prefer, tea or coffee?

  5. Nahiago dut zu etortzea.

    I would prefer you to come.

    When someone else does it, use a -tzea phrase.

  6. Etxean egon baino nahiago dut kalera irten.

    I would rather go out than stay at home.

Common Mistakes

  • Using naiz with nahiago.

    Tea nahiago naiz.
    Tea nahiago dut.

    Like nahi, nahiago takes dut, duzu, du...

  • Putting baino after the thing you prefer. Here the speaker means I prefer tea to coffee.

    Tea baino kafea nahiago dut.
    Tea kafea baino nahiago dut.

    baino means than and follows the thing you like less. Tea baino kafea nahiago dut means I prefer coffee to tea.

  • Keeping dut with a plural object.

    Sagarrak nahiago dut.
    Sagarrak nahiago ditut.

    The auxiliary agrees with what you prefer. sagarrak is plural, so use ditut.

How It Connects

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

nahiago izanLevel 2Preferring: Nahiago Dut

Learn This First

nahiago combines nahi with the comparative.

Words in This Pattern

nahiago izannahibaino