-(e)nean
When: -(e)nean
-(e)nean on the verb means when: Etxera iristen naizenean, afaltzen dut (When I get home, I have dinner). Txikia nintzenean, Bilbon bizi nintzen (When I was little, I lived in Bilbao).
How It Works
Where it goes. -(e)nean attaches to the conjugated verb, the auxiliary or a synthetic verb, at the end of the when clause. It is the -(e)n ending followed by the inessive -ean (in, at).
Common forms.
- naiz → naizenean, zara → zarenean, da → denean, gara → garenean, dira → direnean
- dut → dudanean, duzu → duzunean, du → duenean, dugu → dugunean, dute → dutenean
- nago → nagoenean, dago → dagoenean
- past: nintzen → nintzenean, zen → zenean, nuen → nuenean, zuen → zuenean
As with -lako, a final -t becomes -d (dut → dudanean) and a final -a becomes -e (da → denean).
Habits. Use the -tzen form for things that happen every time: Denbora dudanean, irakurtzen dut (When I have time, I read).
One past event. Use the participle and a past auxiliary: Etxera iritsi nintzenean, afaria prest zegoen (When I got home, dinner was ready).
The future. When the main clause is in the future, the when clause usually uses the -tzen form, not -ko: Ane iristen denean, bazkaltzen hasiko gara (When Ane arrives, we will start lunch). The -ko form (iritsiko denean) is also correct and is common in the North.
Related endings. noiz asks when?, but it never joins two clauses. For on doing with the same doer, you will meet -tzean, and for while, -(e)n bitartean.
Examples (6)
- Etxera iristen naizenean, afaltzen dut.
When I get home, I have dinner.
A habit, so both verbs use the -tzen form.
- Txikia nintzenean, Bilbon bizi nintzen.
When I was little, I lived in Bilbao.
- Etxera iritsi nintzenean, afaria prest zegoen.
When I got home, dinner was ready.
One past event uses the participle iritsi.
- Ane iristen denean, bazkaltzen hasiko gara.
When Ane arrives, we will start lunch.
The main clause is future; the when clause uses iristen denean.
- Denbora dudanean, irakurtzen dut.
When I have time, I read.
dut becomes dudanean.
- Euria ari duenean, etxean geratzen gara.
When it rains, we stay at home.
Common Mistakes
Using the question word noiz to join two clauses.
Noiz etxera iristen naiz, afaltzen dut.Etxera iristen naizenean, afaltzen dut.noiz only asks a question. To say when in a statement, add -(e)nean to the verb.
Keeping the -t of dut before -(e)nean.
Denbora dutnean, irakurtzen dut.Denbora dudanean, irakurtzen dut.Before these endings a final -t becomes -d and a vowel is added: dut → dudanean.
How It Connects
Learn This First
-(e)nean builds on noiz and the inessive.
Related Patterns
- -tzeanWhen Doing: -tzean
Another way to say when, used mostly with the same doer.
Level 3 - -(e)n bitarteanWhile
Says while two things happen at the same time.
Level 3 - -(e)nRelative Clauses
-(e)nean is built on this -(e)n ending.
Level 3 - -lakoBecause: -lako
Follows the same spelling changes on the verb.
Level 2 - If: ba-
Another way to join a condition to a main clause.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice -(e)nean in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Basque lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
