ohi
Usually: Ohi
Kafea hartu ohi dut means "I usually have coffee". ohi sits just before the auxiliary.
How It Works
Where it goes. Put ohi right before the auxiliary, after the participle:
- Goizean kafea hartu ohi dut (I usually have coffee in the morning).
- Igandeetan etorri ohi da (He usually comes on Sundays).
In the Southern Basque Country the verb uses the plain participle (hartu, etorri). Northern Basque uses the -tzen form instead: Gutxien ustean gertatzen ohi dira (They usually happen when you least expect it). The -tzen form is also common after ez. A future -ko form does not go with ohi.
Past habits. With a past auxiliary, ohi means "used to": Udan hondartzara joan ohi ginen (In summer we used to go to the beach). Compare Used To.
Negatives. ez comes first and ohi stays before the auxiliary: Ez ohi da berandu iristen (He does not usually arrive late).
Style. The everyday way to show a habit is The Present Habitual: kafea hartzen dut. ohi is common in writing, news and careful speech, and it stresses that something is usual.
Useful phrases.
- ohi bezala: as usual. Ohi bezala, berandu iritsi da.
- ohi baino: than usual. Gaur ohi baino lehenago esnatu naiz.
A different ohi. After a noun, ohi means "former": lehendakari ohia (the former president).
Examples (6)
- Goizean kafea hartu ohi dut.
I usually have coffee in the morning.
- Igandeetan etorri ohi da.
He usually comes on Sundays.
- Udan hondartzara joan ohi ginen.
In summer we used to go to the beach.
With a past auxiliary, ohi means "used to".
- Ez ohi da berandu iristen.
He does not usually arrive late.
- Ohi bezala, berandu iritsi da.
As usual, he has arrived late.
- Gaur ohi baino lehenago esnatu naiz.
Today I woke up earlier than usual.
Common Mistakes
Putting ohi after the auxiliary.
Goizean kafea hartu dut ohi.Goizean kafea hartu ohi dut.ohi comes before the auxiliary, never after it.
Using the future form with ohi.
Igandeetan etorriko ohi da.Igandeetan etorri ohi da.ohi describes a habit, so it takes the plain participle, not the future -ko form.
How It Connects
Learn This First
ohi follows the habitual.
Related Patterns
- -tzen + Past AuxiliaryUsed to
The everyday "used to": joaten ginen, next to joan ohi ginen.
Level 2 - -tu / -i / -nThe Dictionary Form of Verbs
ohi follows the participle: hartu ohi dut.
Level 1 - omenReportedly: Omen
Another particle that sits before the auxiliary: etorri omen da.
Level 4 - -(e)n bezalaAs, Like: -(e)n Bezala
The comparison in ohi bezala (as usual) and ohi duen bezala.
Level 4 - uste bainoThan Expected
Works like ohi baino (than usual): comparison with baino.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice ohi in Bubblegum
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