zein ... bait-

Relative Zein

Level 6

Liburu hau, zeina iaz argitaratu baitzen, oso ezaguna da. This book, which was published last year, is very well known.

How It Works

1. Two ways to describe a noun.

  • Everyday: Iaz argitaratu zen liburua oso ezaguna da. The book that was published last year is very well known.
  • Literary: Liburu hau, zeina iaz argitaratu baitzen, oso ezaguna da. This book, which was published last year, is very well known.

2. How to build it. Noun, comma, zein with its case ending, the clause with a bait- verb, comma. Writers also use -(e)n on the verb, but bait- is the traditional partner.

3. The right case. zein takes the ending of its role inside the clause:

  • zeina: the subject of an intransitive verb or the object
  • zeinak: the subject of a transitive verb
  • zeinari: to which, to whom
  • zeinaren: whose
  • zeinean, zeinetan: in which

4. The right number. zein matches the noun it describes: after a plural noun, use zeinak (older southern texts also have zeintzuk), and make the verb plural.

5. When to use it. It is almost always used to add information about a noun that is already clear, not to pick out which one you mean. Euskaltzaindia has set no standard rule for it, and it is rare in speech. For everyday Basque, prefer -(e)n before the noun.

Examples (6)

  1. Liburu hau, zeina iaz argitaratu baitzen, oso ezaguna da.

    This book, which was published last year, is very well known.

  2. Gure aitona, zeina Donostian jaio baitzen, marinela izan zen.

    Our grandfather, who was born in Donostia, was a sailor.

  3. Irakaslea, zeinak hiru liburu idatzi baititu, bihar etorriko da.

    The teacher, who has written three books, will come tomorrow.

    zeinak: the subject of idatzi, a transitive verb.

  4. Hitz batzuk, zeinak ez baitira haurrentzat egokiak, kendu ditugu.

    We have removed some words, which are not suitable for children.

    The plural noun hitz batzuk needs plural zeinak and baitira.

  5. Bixente, zeinaren ama atzo hil baitzen, negarrez ikusi dut.

    I saw Bixente, whose mother died yesterday, in tears.

    zeinaren: whose.

  6. Hirugarren zatia, zeinean azaltzen baita zer egin behar den, luzeegia da.

    The third part, in which it is explained what must be done, is too long.

    zeinean: in which.

Common Mistakes

  • Using singular zein after a plural noun.

    Hitz batzuk, zeina ez baita haurrentzat egokia, kendu ditugu.
    Hitz batzuk, zeinak ez baitira haurrentzat egokiak, kendu ditugu.

    zein always matches the noun in number. hitz batzuk is plural, so use zeinak and a plural verb.

  • Leaving out the ergative ending.

    Irakaslea, zeina hiru liburu idatzi baititu, bihar etorriko da.
    Irakaslea, zeinak hiru liburu idatzi baititu, bihar etorriko da.

    Inside the clause, the teacher is the subject of idatzi, a transitive verb, so zein takes -k: zeinak.

How It Connects

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

zein ... bait-Level 6Relative Zein

Learn This First

Relative zein combines zein, relatives and bait-.

Words in This Pattern

zein