-(r)en
Whose: -(r)en
-(r)en works like English 's: Aneren etxea (Ane's house).
How It Works
Forms.
- Name ending in a vowel: Ane → Aneren, Koldo → Koldoren
- Name ending in a consonant: Mikel → Mikelen, Jon → Jonen
- Singular with the article: mutila → mutilaren (the boy's); ama → amaren (the mother's)
- Plural with the article: mutilak → mutilen (the boys'); ikasleak → ikasleen (the students')
- Pronouns have their own forms: nire, zure, haren. See possessive pronouns.
Order. The owner always comes first, as in English "Ane's house": Aneren etxea. Basque has no order like "the house of Ane". Phrases can stack: nire lagunaren ama (my friend's mother).
More than owners. -(r)en also marks the whole a part belongs to: etxearen teilatua (the roof of the house). It comes before location words: atearen aurrean (in front of the door). See location words. Other endings are built on it, such as -(r)entzat (for).
Places use -ko. For a link to a place, use -ko: Bilboko museoa, not Bilboren museoa. See -ko or -(r)en?.
With the article, the -(r)en word can stand alone: Anerena (Ane's). See mine and yours.
Examples (6)
- Hau Aneren etxea da.
This is Ane's house.
Word by Word: This Ane-of house is.
- Mikelen autoa gorria da.
Mikel's car is red.
Word by Word: Mikel-of car red is.
- Mutilaren liburua mahai gainean dago.
The boy's book is on the table.
Word by Word: The-boy-of book table top-on is.
- Nire lagunaren ama irakaslea da.
My friend's mother is a teacher.
Word by Word: My friend-the-of mother teacher is.
- Ikasleen gela bigarren solairuan dago.
The students' classroom is on the second floor.
Word by Word: The-students-of classroom second floor-on is.
- Etxearen teilatua berria da.
The roof of the house is new.
Word by Word: The-house-of roof new is.
Common Mistakes
Putting the owner after the thing owned, as English does in the house of Ane.
Etxea Aneren handia da.Aneren etxea handia da.The owner with -(r)en comes before the noun it owns.
Leaving out the r after a name that ends in a vowel.
Anen liburua da.Aneren liburua da.After a vowel the ending is -ren: Aneren.
Using the plural -en when there is only one owner (intended meaning: the boy's book).
Mutilen liburua da.Mutilaren liburua da.mutilen means the boys'. For one boy, use mutilaren.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The possessive genitive follows the case overview.
Related Patterns
- nire / zure / haren / gure / zuen / haienPossessive Pronouns
The possessive forms of the pronouns.
Level 1 - -ko / -(r)en-ko or -(r)en?
When to use -ko for a place instead of -(r)en.
Level 3 - -koOf a Place: -ko
The other genitive, for places.
Level 1 - nirea / zureaMine and Yours
The -(r)en word used alone: Anerena, Ane's.
Level 2 - -(r)entzatFor: -(r)entzat
The ending for for someone, built on -(r)en.
Level 2 - gainean / azpian / ondoan / aurrean / atzeanLocation Words
Location words often follow a -(r)en noun: atearen aurrean.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- Dates, Months and SeasonsLevel 2
- nolako / nongoa / norenWhat Kind, From Where, WhoseLevel 2
- -(r)en bila / -(r)en zainLooking for, Waiting forLevel 3
- -gan / -gana / -gandikPeople as PlacesLevel 3
- -(r)engatik / -(r)i eskerBecause of, Thanks toLevel 3
- -(r)en alde / -(r)en aurkaFor and AgainstLevel 4
- -(r)en araberaAccording toLevel 4
- -(r)en bidezBy Means ofLevel 4
And 7 more in the full list.
Practice -(r)en in Bubblegum
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