ezean
Unless, Without: Ezean
ezean means unless or if there is no. It already contains the "not": Garaiz joan ezean = if we do not go on time.
How It Works
1. After a participle: "unless". Participle + ezean makes a negative condition about the future or about things in general:
- Garaiz joan ezean, ez dugu sarrerarik lortuko. (Unless we go on time, we will not get tickets.)
- Geuk egin ezean, inork ez du egingo. (If we do not do it, nobody will.)
The same idea with a conjugated verb uses ba- and ez: garaiz joaten ez bagara. The ezean form is especially common in Gipuzkoa and the West.
2. After a noun with -(r)ik: "if there is no". The noun takes the partitive -(r)ik:
- Aurkako iritzirik ezean, bihar hasiko gara. (Unless anyone objects, we will start tomorrow.)
- Beste aukerarik ezean, trenez joan ginen. (Having no other choice, we went by train.)
3. After a person: "without". Zu ezean, ez genuke lortuko. (Without you, we would not manage it.) Here it means if it were not for you. Zu gabe says the same thing in everyday speech.
4. Limits. After a participle, use ezean for something that has not happened yet or that is generally true. For something already finished, or happening right now, use ez + ba-: Bart elurrik egin ez badu, autoz joango gara. (If it did not snow last night, we will go by car.) Do not add another ez before the participle, because ezean is already negative.
Tip: gabe describes how something happens (Ezer esan gabe joan zen, he left without saying anything). ezean sets a condition for what happens next.
Examples (6)
- Garaiz joan ezean, ez dugu sarrerarik lortuko.
Unless we go on time, we will not get tickets.
joan ezean = joaten ez bagara.
- Geuk egin ezean, inork ez du egingo.
If we do not do it, nobody will.
- Eguraldia hobetu ezean, etxean geratuko gara.
Unless the weather improves, we will stay at home.
- Aurkako iritzirik ezean, bihar hasiko gara.
Unless anyone objects, we will start tomorrow.
Literally "if there is no opposing opinion". iritzi takes -rik.
- Beste aukerarik ezean, trenez joan ginen.
Having no other choice, we went by train.
- Zu ezean, ez genuke lortuko.
Without you, we would not manage it.
After a person, ezean means without them or if it were not for them.
Common Mistakes
Adding ez before the participle.
Garaiz ez joan ezean, ez dugu sarrerarik lortuko.Garaiz joan ezean, ez dugu sarrerarik lortuko.ezean already means "not". With an extra ez, the clause would mean "unless we do not go on time".
Using the -tzen form instead of the participle.
Garaiz joaten ezean, ez dugu sarrerarik lortuko.Garaiz joan ezean, ez dugu sarrerarik lortuko.ezean follows the participle: joan, etorri, egin. The -tzen form belongs in the conjugated version: joaten ez bagara.
Using ezean for something that already happened.
Bart elurrik egin ezean, autoz joango gara.Bart elurrik egin ez badu, autoz joango gara.ezean cannot describe a finished event like last night's weather. Use ez + ba- with the conjugated verb.
How It Connects
Learn This First
ezean follows if and negation.
Related Patterns
- -(r)ikAny: -(r)ik
Nouns before ezean take -(r)ik: aukerarik ezean.
Level 2 - -tu gabeWithout Doing
gabe also means without, but it describes manner, not a condition.
Level 3 - salbu / ezikExcept
ezik is a close relative of ezean: unless, except.
Level 5 - -(e)z geroIf, Given That: -z Gero
The positive counterpart: joanez gero, if we go.
Level 5 - -tzekotanOn Condition That
Another non-conjugated condition, for future plans.
Level 5
Practice ezean in Bubblegum
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