Question Word Next to the Verb

Level 1

In Basque questions, the question word is glued to the verb: Non bizi da Ane? (Where does Ane live?)

How It Works

Basque puts the most important new information of a sentence directly before the verb. This is the focus position. A question word asks for that new information, so it always takes this spot.

The rule. The question word, or the whole question phrase, comes immediately before the verb:

  • Non bizi da Ane? (Where does Ane live?)
  • Zer nahi duzu zuk? (What do you want?)
  • Nora joango zara bihar? (Where will you go tomorrow?)
  • Zein etxetan bizi zara? (Which house do you live in?)

In a two-part verb, the question word comes before the main verb, and the auxiliary follows: Nora joango zara?

Negative questions. ez and the auxiliary come right after the question word: Zer ez duzu ulertzen? (What don't you understand?)

Where does the subject go? After the verb, or at the very start as a topic: Ane non bizi da? (And Ane, where does she live?) It can never go between the question word and the verb. Only ez or a small question particle such as ote can stand there: Non ote dago? (Where could it be?)

No ba- here. Because the question word holds the focus, the verb cannot take affirmative ba-: say Nora zoaz?, never Nora bazoaz?

Examples (6)

  1. Non bizi da Ane?

    Where does Ane live?

    The subject Ane comes after the verb.

  2. Ane non bizi da?

    And Ane, where does she live?

    Ane is a topic at the start; non still sits right before the verb.

  3. Zer nahi duzu zuk?

    What do you want?

  4. Nora joango zara bihar?

    Where will you go tomorrow?

  5. Zein etxetan bizi zara?

    Which house do you live in?

    The whole phrase zein etxetan goes before the verb.

  6. Zer ez duzu ulertzen?

    What don't you understand?

    ez and the auxiliary follow the question word; ulertzen goes last.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the subject between the question word and the verb.

    Non Ane bizi da?
    Non bizi da Ane?

    The question word must touch the verb. Move the subject after the verb, or put it first as a topic: Ane non bizi da?

  • Adding affirmative ba- to the verb in a question-word question.

    Nora bazoaz?
    Nora zoaz?

    ba- puts the focus on the verb, but the question word already holds the focus. Leave the verb without ba-.

How It Connects

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Question Word Next to the VerbLevel 1

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Question word order applies the focus rule.

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