-ok
We All, You All: -ok
Use -ok instead of -ak when "we" or "you all" are the group: euskaldunok (we Basque speakers), denok (all of us), guztiok.
How It Works
How to form it. Add -ok where you would add -ak: euskaldun → euskaldunok, ikasle → ikasleok, dena → denok, guzti → guztiok.
The verb decides the person.
- With a we-verb: Euskaldunok badakigu (We Basque speakers know). gu can go in front: gu euskaldunok.
- With a you-all verb: Zuek, ikasleok, ondo egin duzue (You students did well).
- With a they-verb, -ok means "these": Azken urteotan asko aldatu da herria (The town has changed a lot in recent years).
The same form for doers. For the doer of a transitive verb, -ok stays -ok, just as -ak does: Guk, irakasleok, asko ikasten dugu (We teachers learn a lot).
Other endings. Where the plural has -e-, -ok has -o-:
- to: -oi, as in Guztioi eskerrik asko! (Thanks to you all!)
- of: -on, as in denon artean (among all of us) and the old newspaper name Euskaldunon Egunkaria
- with: -okin, as in lagunokin (with us friends)
- in: -otan, as in egunotan (these days)
Only plural. -ok has no singular. For one person, use -a: Ni ikaslea naiz.
Examples (6)
- Euskaldunok badakigu hori.
We Basque speakers know that.
The we-verb badakigu shows who euskaldunok are.
- Zuek, ikasleok, oso ondo egin duzue.
You students did very well.
- Denok etorri gara.
All of us came.
denok with gara means all of us.
- Guztioi eskerrik asko!
Thanks to you all!
guztioi is the "to" form of guztiok.
- Hau denon artean egingo dugu.
We will do this among all of us.
denon is the "of" form of denok.
- Azken urteotan asko aldatu da herria.
The town has changed a lot in recent years.
With a they-verb, -ok simply means these.
Common Mistakes
Using a they-verb when you mean we.
Euskaldunok euskaraz hitz egiten dute.Euskaldunok euskaraz hitz egiten dugu.If you mean "we Basque speakers speak Basque", the verb must be dugu. With dute, euskaldunok is heard as "these Basque speakers", which is not what you mean.
How It Connects
Learn This First
-ok follows the plural and the pronouns.
Related Patterns
- guztiak / denak / osoaAll and Whole
denok and guztiok are the we or you forms of denak and guztiak.
Level 2 - Plural Case Endings
The plural endings that -ok mirrors with -o- instead of -e-.
Level 2 - hau / hori / huraThis, That and That Over There
-ok also means these, like hauek: egunotan.
Level 1 - Leaving Out Pronouns
The verb alone often shows whether -ok means we or you.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice -ok in Bubblegum
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