dadin / dezan
So That: Dadin, Dezan
To say so that someone does something, use the radical plus a subjunctive auxiliary: ondo uler dezazun (so that you understand well), etor dadin (so that he comes).
How It Works
The forms. Pick the auxiliary as usual: dadin forms for naiz verbs, dezan forms for dut verbs.
- naiz verbs: nadin, zaitezen, dadin, gaitezen, zaitezten, daitezen
- dut verbs: dezadan, dezazun, dezan, dezagun, dezazuen, dezaten
- dut verbs with a plural object: ditzadan, ditzazun, ditzan, ditzagun, ditzazuen, ditzaten
The verb before the auxiliary is the verb radical: uler, etor, eros. Every form ends in -n, the mark of this clause.
Same subject or not. With the same subject, use In Order To: -tzeko: Ondo ulertzeko, poliki irakurtzen dut (I read slowly in order to understand well). With a different subject, the subjunctive makes clear who is meant: Poliki hitz egiten dut, ondo uler dezazun. Everyday speech, and much writing too, often uses -tzeko here as well (zuk ondo ulertzeko), and that is also correct. The subjunctive sounds more careful and is common in formal writing.
So that ... not. Put ez before the auxiliary: katua sar ez dadin (so that the cat does not get in), gal ez zaitezen (so that you do not get lost).
In the past. When the main verb is past, careful writing uses the past subjunctive: Poliki hitz egin nuen, ondo uler zenezan. See The Past Subjunctive.
Examples (6)
- Poliki hitz egiten dut, ondo uler dezazun.
I speak slowly so that you understand well.
- Deitu diot, etor dadin.
I have called him so that he comes.
etorri takes naiz, so the form is dadin.
- Atea itxi dut, katua sar ez dadin.
I have closed the door so that the cat doesn't get in.
ez comes right before the auxiliary.
- Mapa bat ekarri dizut, gal ez zaitezen.
I have brought you a map so that you don't get lost.
- Dirua eman diot, liburu bat eros dezan.
I have given her money so that she can buy a book.
- Hiztegia utzi diot, hitz berriak ikas ditzan.
I have lent him the dictionary so that he learns new words.
hitz berriak is plural, so dezan becomes ditzan.
Common Mistakes
Leaving off the final -n.
Poliki hitz egiten dut, ondo uler dezazu.Poliki hitz egiten dut, ondo uler dezazun.The so-that form always ends in -n: dezazun, dadin, dezan.
Using dezan with a verb that takes naiz.
Deitu diot, etor dezan.Deitu diot, etor dadin.etorri takes naiz (etorri da), so its subjunctive is dadin. dezan is for verbs that take dut.
Using an ordinary present form.
Poliki hitz egiten dut, ondo ulertzen duzun.Poliki hitz egiten dut, ondo uler dezazun.An ordinary present verb with -n, like ulertzen duzun, does not mean so that. Use the subjunctive: the radical plus dezazun.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Subjunctive purpose clauses use a radical and an auxiliary from the appropriate verb family.
- -tzekoIn Order to: -tzeko
Dadin and dezan express a purpose that can be compared with a -tzeko phrase.
Level 2 - The Verb Radical
The main verb uses its radical before the subjunctive auxiliary.
Level 3 - Main Verb and Auxiliary
The ordinary naiz/dut distinction prepares the choice between dadin and dezan.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- nendin / nezanThe Past Subjunctive
The past forms used when the main verb is in the past.
Level 5 - nahi + SubjunctiveWanting with the Subjunctive
The same subjunctive forms after nahi: wanting someone else to do something.
Level 4 - goazen / dezagunLet's
gaitezen and dezagun also make let's on their own.
Level 3 - diezaioket / diezaionCould Give, So That It Is Given
The subjunctive forms that also include a receiver.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice dadin / dezan in Bubblegum
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