-(e)n heinean
To the Extent That
Hein means degree or level. With a relative verb before it, heinean links two things that change together: Ikasten duzun heinean, errazagoa izango da (As you learn, it will get easier).
How It Works
1. Building it. Put the verb in its relative -(e)n form and add heinean or neurrian:
- ikasten duzun heinean: as you learn
- ahal den heinean: as far as possible
- behar den neurrian: as much as needed
After a noun, use -(r)en: bere ahalbideen neurrian (within its means).
2. Three uses.
- Growing together: Herria hazi den heinean, trafikoa ere handitu egin da (As the town has grown, traffic has increased too).
- A limit: Ahal den heinean, lagunduko dizugu (We will help you as far as we can).
- A role or reason: Irakaslea den heinean, ikasleen segurtasunaz arduratu behar du (As a teacher, she has to look after the students' safety). This use is very common in modern formal writing.
3. Other ways to say "as".
- zenbat eta ... orduan eta: the more ..., the more ...
- gero eta -ago: more and more
- -(e)n bezala: as, in the way that
- -(e)nean: when, at one moment
Heinean is about degree, so it does not replace -(e)nean for a single moment.
Tip: If you can say "to the extent that" or "insofar as" in English, heinean fits. If you mean "at the moment when", use -(e)nean.
Examples (6)
- Ikasten duzun heinean, errazagoa izango da.
As you learn, it will get easier.
- Ahal den heinean, lagunduko dizugu.
We will help you as far as we can.
- Herria hazi den heinean, trafikoa ere handitu egin da.
As the town has grown, traffic has increased too.
- Irakaslea den heinean, ikasleen segurtasunaz arduratu behar du.
As a teacher, she has to look after the students' safety.
Here heinean gives a role: in her capacity as a teacher.
- Erabili gatza behar den neurrian.
Use salt as much as needed.
- Elkarteak, bere ahalbideen neurrian, bertako kultura sustatzen du.
Within its means, the association promotes local culture.
Common Mistakes
Leaving off the relative -n.
Ikasten duzu heinean, errazagoa izango da.Ikasten duzun heinean, errazagoa izango da.heinean works like a noun, so the verb before it needs the relative ending: duzun.
Using heinean for a single moment.
Etxera iritsi naizen heinean, deitu dizut.Etxera iritsi naizenean, deitu dizut.Arriving home happens at one moment, and heinean means to the extent that. Use -(e)nean (when) for a point in time.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To the extent that follows -(e)n.
Related Patterns
- zenbat eta ... orduan etaThe More ... the More
Another way to link two things that grow together.
Level 4 - gero eta -agoMore and More
More and more: often used in the main clause after heinean.
Level 3 - -(e)neanWhen: -(e)nean
For a moment in time, where heinean does not fit.
Level 2 - -(e)n bezalaAs, Like: -(e)n Bezala
Another "as", meaning in the way that.
Level 4 - -(r)en araberaAccording to
According to: another phrase about matching one thing to another.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice -(e)n heinean in Bubblegum
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