ukan: dut / duzu / du

The Verb to Have (Dut, Duzu, Du)

Level 1

dut means "I have" one thing: Auto bat dut. (I have a car.) The full set is dut, duzu, du, dugu, duzue, dute.

How It Works

The forms. These are used when the thing owned is singular:

  • (nik) dut: I have
  • (zuk) duzu: you have
  • (hark) du: he, she, it has
  • (guk) dugu: we have
  • (zuek) duzue: you (plural) have
  • (haiek) dute: they have

The owner takes -k. "Have" is a transitive verb, so its subject is marked with the ergative -k: nik, zuk, hark, guk, zuek, haiek, and for names Anek, Mikelek. Subject pronouns are often left out, because the verb already shows the person.

One thing or several? These forms are for one thing. For several things, use ditut, dituzu, ditu: Bi auto ditut. (I have two cars.) Age works the same way: Hogei urte ditut.

Also an auxiliary. The same forms combine with a main verb to make transitive tenses, as in the present perfect: Liburua irakurri dute. (They have read the book.)

What is it called? Grammars and dictionaries give this verb as izan (like "to be") or as ukan, the name used in the North. In everyday Southern speech, possession is also often expressed with daukat.

Examples (6)

  1. Auto bat dut.

    I have a car.

  2. Anek etxe bat du.

    Ane has a house.

    The owner Ane takes the ergative -k: Anek.

  3. Txakurrik duzu?

    Do you have a dog?

    In questions, -rik often replaces bat.

  4. Guk denbora dugu.

    We have time.

  5. Buruko mina dut.

    I have a headache.

    Word by Word: Head-of pain I-have.

  6. Liburua irakurri dute.

    They have read the book.

    Here dute is the auxiliary of irakurri.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out the ergative -k on the owner.

    Ane etxe bat du.
    Anek etxe bat du.

    du is transitive, so its subject needs -k: Anek.

  • Using the singular form for several things.

    Bi auto dut.
    Bi auto ditut.

    dut is for one thing. With two or more things, use the plural forms ditut, dituzu, ditu.

How It Connects

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ukan: dut / duzu / duLevel 1The Verb to Have (Dut, Duzu, Du)

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ukan is learned with the pronouns.

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ukanedun