-tzen + Past Auxiliary
Used to
To say what someone used to do, use the -tzen form with a past auxiliary: joaten nintzen (I used to go), irakurtzen zuen (she used to read).
How It Works
How it is built. Take the -tzen form of the verb and add nintzen or nuen for the right person. It works exactly like the present habitual, with the auxiliary in the past.
Habits and repeated actions. It often appears with words for a past period or for repetition: txikitan (as a child), gaztetan (when young), lehen (before, formerly), udan (in the summer), egunero (every day). See Every Day, Ago and In.
Used to or went? The -tzen form tells a habit, while the participle tells one event: Hondartzara joaten nintzen (I used to go to the beach), but Atzo hondartzara joan nintzen (I went to the beach yesterday). See The Simple Past.
In progress at a moment. The same form can also describe something going on in the past, but for an action in progress at one moment ari nintzen is clearer: Afaria prestatzen ari nintzen (I was making dinner). See Right Now: -tzen ari naiz.
A more formal option. Written Basque also says joan ohi nintzen with the participle and ohi, which means the same.
Examples (6)
- Txikitan hondartzara joaten nintzen.
As a child I used to go to the beach.
joan takes naiz, so the past auxiliary is nintzen.
- Aitonak egunero egunkaria irakurtzen zuen.
Grandfather read the newspaper every day.
irakurri takes dut, so the past auxiliary is zuen.
- Udan amonaren etxera joaten ginen.
In the summer we used to go to our grandmother's house.
- Lehen asko erretzen nuen.
I used to smoke a lot.
- Gaztetan futbolean jokatzen zenuen?
Did you play football when you were young?
- Ikasle horiek ez zuten etxeko lanik egiten.
Those students did not do any homework.
In the negative, the auxiliary follows ez and the -tzen form moves to the end.
Common Mistakes
Choosing nuen for a verb that takes naiz.
Txikitan hondartzara joaten nuen.Txikitan hondartzara joaten nintzen.joan is a nor verb (joaten naiz), so its past habitual uses nintzen.
Choosing zen for a verb that takes du.
Aitonak egunero egunkaria irakurtzen zen.Aitonak egunero egunkaria irakurtzen zuen.irakurri takes du (irakurtzen du), so its past habitual uses zuen, and the subject has -k.
Using the participle when you mean a habit.
Txikitan egunero hondartzara joan nintzen.Txikitan egunero hondartzara joaten nintzen.To say you used to go, the verb needs the -tzen form. joan nintzen reports going, not a habit.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The past habitual combines the habitual with past auxiliaries.
Related Patterns
- -tzen / -tenMaking the -tzen Form
Shows how to make the -tzen form this construction needs.
Level 1 - -tzen ari izanRight Now: -tzen Ari Naiz
ari nintzen describes an action in progress at a past moment.
Level 2 - ohiUsually: Ohi
A more formal way to say used to: joan ohi nintzen.
Level 4 - -ero / duela / barruEvery Day, Ago and in
Supplies egunero, astero and urtero, frequent companions of this form.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice -tzen + Past Auxiliary in Bubblegum
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