bent

At Least with Bent

Level 4

Bent means at least. Put it before the word it limits: Bent paskambink! (At least give me a call!), Palauk bent valandą (Wait at least an hour).

How It Works

1. The minimum. Bent asks for, or states, the least that is enough:

  • Bent paskambink! (At least give me a call!)
  • Per savaitę perskaitau bent vieną knygą. (I read at least one book a week.)

2. With amounts and times. Bent goes before the amount, and the amount keeps its normal case. For a length of time, that is the accusative of time: Palauk bent valandą (Wait at least an hour).

3. Bent jau: at least that is good. With jau, bent can point to one good thing in a bad situation: Bent jau nelyja (At least it isn't raining).

4. Bent kiek. Bent kiek means at least a little or at all: Ar bent kiek pailsėjai? (Did you get at least a little rest?)

5. Bent, net and nors. Net (even) points to something surprising, often with a negation: Jis net nepaskambino (He didn't even call). Bent does not work that way. In some phrases nors can also mean at least: Pailsėk nors valandėlę (Rest at least for a little while).

Examples (5)

  1. Bent paskambink!

    At least give me a call!

    Word by Word: At-least call!

  2. Palauk bent valandą.

    Wait at least an hour.

    Valandą stays in the accusative of time.

  3. Bent jau nelyja.

    At least it isn't raining.

    Bent jau finds one good point.

  4. Per savaitę perskaitau bent vieną knygą.

    I read at least one book a week.

  5. Ar bent kiek pailsėjai?

    Did you get at least a little rest?

Common Mistakes

  • Using bent to mean not even.

    Jis bent nepaskambino.
    Jis net nepaskambino.

    The intended meaning is "he didn't even call". Bent means at least; for not even, use net with the negated verb.

  • Changing the case after bent.

    Palauk bent valandos.
    Palauk bent valandą.

    Bent does not govern a case. A length of time stays in the accusative: valandą.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

bentLevel 4At Least with Bent

Learn This First

Bent focuses the minimum that would suffice.

Words in This Pattern