-tu / -i / -n

The Dictionary Form of Verbs

Level 1

Verbs are listed by their participle: sartu (enter), etorri (come), ikusi (see), egin (do), jan (eat), hil (die).

How It Works

The shapes

  • -tu: sartu (enter), bukatu (finish), ahaztu (forget). After n or l it is -du: kendu (remove), saldu (sell), lagundu (help). Verbs borrowed from other languages also take -tu: gustatu (please), entrenatu (train).
  • -i: etorri (come), ikusi (see), ikasi (learn), idatzi (write).
  • -n: egin (do, make), jan (eat), joan (go), izan (be), egon (be, stay).
  • Other endings: hil (die), atera (go out, take out), jo (hit), igo (go up).

What it builds

  • With a present auxiliary, the present perfect: Ane etorri da. (Ane has come.)
  • With -ko or -go, the future: etorriko da (will come), egingo du (will do).
  • With a past auxiliary, the simple past: etorri zen (came).
  • Before nahi and behar: Etxera joan nahi dut. (I want to go home.)

The participle stays the same for every person: ni etorri naiz, zu etorri zara, haiek etorri dira. Only the auxiliary changes.

Reading a dictionary entry
A dictionary often gives three forms: the participle, the radical and the -tzen form, as in ikusi, ikus, ikusten. Learn all three together.

Examples (6)

  1. Ane etorri da.

    Ane has come.

    etorri is the participle; da shows the person.

  2. Liburu hau irakurri dut.

    I have read this book.

    irakurri is an -i participle.

  3. Afaria egin dugu.

    We have made dinner.

    egin is an -n participle.

  4. Mezua bidali dut.

    I have sent the message.

    bidali (send) is listed in the dictionary in this form.

  5. Bihar etorriko naiz.

    I will come tomorrow.

    The future adds -ko to the participle: etorri → etorriko.

  6. Etxera joan nahi dut.

    I want to go home.

    After nahi the verb stays in its participle form.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the -tzen form for a finished action.

    Gaur filma ikusten dut.
    Gaur filma ikusi dut.

    For the intended meaning “I saw the film today”, use the participle: ikusi dut. Ikusten dut means “I see” or “I watch” as a habit.

  • Using the bare participle with a future time word.

    Bihar etorri naiz.
    Bihar etorriko naiz.

    Etorri naiz means “I have come”, which does not fit bihar (tomorrow). For the future, add -ko: etorriko naiz.

How It Connects

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-tu / -i / -nLevel 1The Dictionary Form of Verbs

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