The Topic Comes First

Level 5

Basque orders words by information: the topic (what you are talking about) first, the focus (the new part) just before the verb. Liburua, Anek erosi du (As for the book, Ane bought it).

How It Works

1. Three positions.

  • Topic at the start: what the sentence is about, often followed by a comma or a pause.
  • Focus right before the verb: the new or important part. See focus before the verb.
  • After the verb: information everyone already knows.

2. The same facts, three ways. Ane bought the book:

  • Anek liburua erosi du. Neutral: "Ane has bought the book." (the usual order)
  • Liburua, Anek erosi du. We are talking about the book, and the news is who bought it.
  • Anek erosi du liburua. The book is already known; the focus is Ane.

3. Topics keep their endings. A topic moved to the front keeps its case: Zuri, zer gertatu zaizu? (And you, what happened to you?) Here zuri keeps its dative ending, and the question word still sits right before the verb.

4. Topics in negative sentences. The topic stays first, and ez with the auxiliary comes before the participle: Liburua, Anek ez du erosi. (The book, Ane has not bought it.)

5. Contrast. A topic often sets up a contrast, sometimes with berriz: Ogia, nik erosiko dut; ardoa, berriz, zuk. (The bread, I will buy; the wine, you will.)

Tip: When you answer a question, put the answer right before the verb and leave the rest where it fits. For a stronger "It was Ane who...", see the cleft.

Examples (6)

  1. Liburua, Anek erosi du.

    As for the book, Ane bought it.

    Topic liburua first; the focus Anek before the verb.

  2. Anek erosi du liburua.

    Ane is the one who bought the book.

    liburua follows the verb because it is already known.

  3. Nire anaia Londresen bizi da.

    My brother lives in London.

    The topic is nire anaia; the new part, Londresen, is before the verb.

  4. Zuri, zer gertatu zaizu?

    And you, what happened to you?

    The topic zuri keeps its -i ending.

  5. Ogia, nik erosiko dut.

    The bread, I'll buy it.

    Topic ogia; focus nik.

  6. Liburua, Anek ez du erosi.

    The book, Ane has not bought it.

    In the negative, ez du comes before erosi.

Common Mistakes

  • Not putting the answer right before the verb.

    Nork erosi du liburua? — Anek liburua erosi du.
    Nork erosi du liburua? — Anek erosi du liburua.

    Ane is the new information, so Anek goes right before the verb. With liburua in between, the focus seems to be the book.

  • Keeping main-clause ez after the participle.

    Liburua, Anek erosi ez du.
    Liburua, Anek ez du erosi.

    In a main clause, ez and the auxiliary come before the participle: ez du erosi.

How It Connects

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

The Topic Comes FirstLevel 5

Learn This First

Topic follows focus.

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Patterns that build on this one.