tiek ..., tiek ...

Formal Both ... and ... with Tiek

Level 5

tiek X, tiek Y = both X and Y: Tai svarbu tiek vaikams, tiek suaugusiems.

How It Works

1. Two equal items.

  • Tai svarbu tiek vaikams, tiek suaugusiems. (This matters for both children and adults.)
  • Kalbu tiek lietuviškai, tiek angliškai. (I speak both Lithuanian and English.)

2. Same form. Both items do the same job in the sentence. In tiek vaikams, tiek suaugusiems, both are in the dative. The two items can also be the subject: Tiek mokytojai, tiek mokiniai buvo patenkinti. (Both the teachers and the students were pleased.)

3. Tiek or ir. In everyday speech, ir ..., ir ... is more common. To make the second item stronger, use ne tik ..., bet ir ....

4. Not kaip ..., taip ir. For the meaning both ... and ..., avoid the pattern kaip ..., taip ir. Standard Lithuanian replaces it with tiek ..., tiek ... or ir ..., ir ....

5. One tiek. A single tiek means so much or so many: Tiek darbo! (So much work!) Only the doubled tiek ..., tiek ... means both ... and ....

Examples (5)

  1. Tai svarbu tiek vaikams, tiek suaugusiems.

    This matters for both children and adults.

    Word by Word: This important both children(DAT), and adults(DAT).

  2. Tiek mokytojai, tiek mokiniai buvo patenkinti.

    Both the teachers and the students were pleased.

    Word by Word: Both teachers, and students were pleased.

  3. Kalbu tiek lietuviškai, tiek angliškai.

    I speak both Lithuanian and English.

    Word by Word: I-speak both Lithuanian, and English.

  4. Ši knyga patiks tiek jauniems, tiek vyresniems skaitytojams.

    Both young and older readers will like this book.

    Word by Word: This book will-please both young(DAT), and older(DAT) readers(DAT).

  5. Muziejus dirba tiek šeštadieniais, tiek sekmadieniais.

    The museum is open on both Saturdays and Sundays.

    Word by Word: Museum works both on-Saturdays, and on-Sundays.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the copied pattern kaip ..., taip ir.

    Kaip mokytojai, taip ir mokiniai buvo patenkinti.
    Tiek mokytojai, tiek mokiniai buvo patenkinti.

    For additive both ... and ..., standard guides correct kaip ..., taip ir. Use tiek ..., tiek ... or ir ..., ir ....

  • Mixing tiek with ir.

    Tai svarbu tiek vaikams, ir suaugusiems.
    Tai svarbu tiek vaikams, tiek suaugusiems.

    The pair must match: tiek before each item. Or use ir before each item: ir vaikams, ir suaugusiems.

  • Leaving out the comma.

    Tai svarbu tiek vaikams tiek suaugusiems.
    Tai svarbu tiek vaikams, tiek suaugusiems.

    A comma always comes before the second tiek.

How It Connects

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

tiek ..., tiek ...Level 5Formal Both ... and ... with Tiek

Learn This First

Tiek ..., tiek ... is a formal way to include both parallel items.