-tzen hasi
Starting to Do
-tzen + hasi means start doing: Euskara ikasten hasi naiz (I have started learning Basque). hasi uses naiz, da and the other izan forms here.
How It Works
The pattern. Put the activity in the -tzen form, then hasi, then the auxiliary:
- Euskara ikasten hasi naiz. (I have started learning Basque.)
- Umea negar egiten hasi da. (The baby has started crying.)
Which auxiliary? When hasi means start doing, it takes izan (naiz, zara, da...), even if the activity has an object: Liburu bat idazten hasi naiz. When you start a thing, a noun, hasi takes ukan (dut, du...): Irakasleak klasea hasi du (The teacher has started the class). Compare: Klasea hasi da (The class has started).
Starting work. lanean hasi means start working. lanean is lan (work) with the inessive -n, which does the same job as the -tzen form: Bihar lanean hasiko naiz (I will start work tomorrow).
Tenses. hasi changes like any other verb: hasi naiz (I have started), hasi nintzen (I started), hasiko naiz (I will start), and for habits hasten naiz (I start): Goizeko zortzietan hasten naiz lanean.
Other verbs also take the -tzen form, such as jarraitu and ikasi. They do not all use izan: Igeri egiten ikasi dut (I have learned to swim).
Examples (6)
- Euskara ikasten hasi naiz.
I have started learning Basque.
- Liburu bat idazten hasi naiz.
I have started writing a book.
Even with an object, start doing uses naiz.
- Umea negar egiten hasi da.
The baby has started crying.
- Bihar lanean hasiko naiz.
I will start work tomorrow.
lanean (at work) plays the part of the -tzen form.
- Goizeko zortzietan hasten naiz lanean.
I start work at eight in the morning.
hasten is the habitual form of hasi.
- Irakasleak klasea hasi du.
The teacher has started the class.
Here hasi has a noun object, so it takes du.
Common Mistakes
Using dut with start doing.
Liburu bat idazten hasi dut.Liburu bat idazten hasi naiz.When hasi is followed by an activity in -tzen, it takes izan. Use dut only when you start a thing: Liburu bat hasi dut.
Using the verbal noun -tzea with hasi.
Euskara ikastea hasi naiz.Euskara ikasten hasi naiz.hasi takes the -tzen form, not the -tzea noun form.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Starting an activity combines the imperfective form with the appropriate auxiliary pattern.
Related Patterns
- -tzen jarraitu / -tzen ikasiKeep Doing, Learn to Do
Other verbs that take the -tzen form.
Level 3 - -tzen ari izanRight Now: -tzen Ari Naiz
Also combines a -tzen form with another verb, for an action in progress.
Level 2 - -tzen + AuxiliaryThe Present Habitual
Uses the same -tzen form for habits.
Level 1 - -tzeari utziStopping Doing
The opposite idea: stop doing something.
Level 3 - -nWhere: -n (In, At, On)
Explains lanean in lanean hasi.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice -tzen hasi in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Basque lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
