ezen

That, So That (Literary): Ezen

Level 6

Hain zen handia, ezen ez baitzen atetik sartzen. (It was so big that it would not go through the door.) ezen belongs to careful literary style.

How It Works

1. Result: hain ... ezen. This is the literary twin of hain ... non. The result clause needs a subordinate verb with bait- or -(e)n:

  • Hainbeste jende bildu zen, ezen plaza txiki geratu baitzen. (So many people gathered that the square was too small.)
  • Hain da ona, ezen denek maite baitute. (It is so good that everyone loves it.)

2. 'That' before a -(e)la clause. Older and literary texts put ezen in front of a -(e)la clause: Iruditzen zait ezen oraindik bizi zarela. (It seems to me that you are still alive.) Modern Basque leaves ezen out, but the -(e)la ending is required either way.

3. Northern 'for, because'. Mainly in Northern texts, ezen gives a reason, and the verb after it is an ordinary main-clause form: Ez naiz joanen, ezen nekatua naiz. (I will not go, for I am tired.)

4. ezen ez: than. In proverbs and classical texts, ezen ez means 'than' or 'rather than': Hobe da zahi hutsa ezen ez aho hutsa. (Better plain bran than an empty mouth.) Modern Basque uses baino.

Tip: When you see ezen, look at the next verb. bait- or -(e)n after hain means a result; -(e)la means 'that'; a plain main-clause verb means 'because'.

Examples (6)

  1. Hain zen handia, ezen ez baitzen atetik sartzen.

    It was so big that it would not go through the door.

  2. Hainbeste jende bildu zen, ezen plaza txiki geratu baitzen.

    So many people gathered that the square was too small.

  3. Argi dago ezen ez dela erraza izango.

    It is clear that it will not be easy.

    ezen before a -(e)la clause. Everyday Basque would say Argi dago ez dela erraza izango.

  4. Agintzen dizut ezen bihar etorriko naizela.

    I promise you that I will come tomorrow.

  5. Ez naiz joanen, ezen nekatua naiz.

    I will not go, for I am tired.

    Northern use: ezen gives a reason, and naiz stays a main-clause form.

  6. Hobe da zahi hutsa ezen ez aho hutsa.

    Better plain bran than an empty mouth.

    An old proverb: ezen ez means than.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving the result verb without bait- or -(e)n.

    Hain da handia, ezen ez da atetik sartzen.
    Hain da handia, ezen ez baita atetik sartzen.

    After hain ... ezen, the result clause is subordinate, so its verb needs bait- (ez baita) or -(e)n (ez den).

  • Leaving out -(e)la after ezen 'that'.

    Argi dago ezen ez da erraza.
    Argi dago ezen ez dela erraza.

    ezen does not replace the -(e)la ending. The clause still needs dela, just as it would without ezen.

How It Connects

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

ezenLevel 6That, So That (Literary): Ezen

Learn This First

ezen follows bait- and -(e)la.