-(e)netik

Since

Level 4

Add -(e)n and then -tik ("from") to the conjugated verb: Hona etorri nintzenetik, euskara ikasten ari naiz. (Since I came here, I have been learning Basque.)

How It Works

How to build it. Take the conjugated verb, add the relative -(e)n, then the ablative -tik:

  • naiz → naizenetik, nintzen → nintzenetik
  • zen → zenetik, genuen → genuenetik
  • dut → dudanetik, dago → dagoenetik

Tense in the main clause. If the situation is still true now, use the present, often ari naiz or a state: Elkar ezagutu genuenetik, lagun onak gara. (Since we met, we have been good friends.) If you count events up to now, the present perfect is fine: Hona etorri nintzenetik, asko ikasi dut. (Since I came here, I have learned a lot.)

With nouns and time words.

  • -tik alone: txikitatik (since childhood), joan den urtetik (since last year), Noiztik? (Since when?)
  • -z geroztik: orduz geroztik (since then)

Pairing -tik with -ra gives a start and an end: goizetik gauera. With a clause, -(e)nez geroztik also means "since" in time, but -(e)netik is the most common form.

Do not mix it up with -(e)nez. -(e)nez is "since" in the sense of a reason (Berandu denez, "since it is late"). -(e)netik is always about time.

Examples (6)

  1. Hona etorri nintzenetik, euskara ikasten ari naiz.

    Since I came here, I have been learning Basque.

    English uses "have been", Basque uses the present.

  2. Elkar ezagutu genuenetik, lagun onak gara.

    Since we met, we have been good friends.

  3. Mikel joan zenetik, etxea isilagoa dago.

    Since Mikel left, the house has been quieter.

  4. Txikitatik gustatzen zait musika.

    I have liked music since I was little.

    With a noun, -tik alone is enough.

  5. Orduz geroztik, ez dut tabakorik erre.

    Since then, I have not smoked.

  6. Noiztik bizi zara hemen? Joan den urtetik.

    Since when have you lived here? Since last year.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding -tik without the relative -(e)n.

    Hona etorri naizetik, pozik nago.
    Hona etorri naizenetik, pozik nago.

    The ending is -(e)n plus -tik: naiz → naizenetik, dut → dudanetik. The -(e)n step cannot be skipped.

  • Using -(e)nean, "when", for "since". The speaker means "since I came here".

    Hona etorri nintzenean, euskara ikasten ari naiz.
    Hona etorri nintzenetik, euskara ikasten ari naiz.

    -(e)nean points to one moment in the past, which does not fit a present ari naiz. -(e)netik marks the start of a period that continues.

How It Connects

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

-(e)netikLevel 4Since

Learn This First

Since combines -(e)n and -tik.

Words in This Pattern

geroztik