Language/Basque/Grammar/Conjunctions

Basque → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Prepositions and Conjunctions → Conjunctions

Conjunctions in Basque

In this lesson, you will learn about conjunctions in Basque, which are used to connect words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence. Conjunctions are important for creating more complex sentences and expressing logical relationships between different parts of a sentence. By mastering the use of conjunctions in Basque, you will be able to communicate more effectively and precisely in the language.

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions are used to connect words, phrases, or clauses of equal or similar grammatical importance. In Basque, coordinating conjunctions are not inflected for case, gender or number. Here are the most common coordinating conjunctions in Basque:

Basque	Pronunciation	English
eta	[eta]	and
edo	[edo]	or
baina	[baina]	but
ala	[ala]	or
ba	[ba]	then, so

Here are some examples:

• Maite da haritza eta gizona - He loves cheese and meat
• Ingurua ederra baina kostaldea arriskutsua da - The surroundings are beautiful but the coastline is dangerous
• Bi edo hiru gazte etorriko dira - Two or three young people will come

In Basque, the coordinating conjunction "eta" is sometimes not translated to English, especially when listing a series of items:

• Bikoteak etxera sartu eta edan - The couple entered the house and drank

The coordinating conjunction "ba" is also used to express a result or conclusion:

• Eskutik egina, zure artean gauzak agertuko dira. Zehazki horregatik ba - Done by hand, things will appear among you. Precisely for that reason, so

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions are used to connect a subordinate clause to a main clause. Subordinate clauses are usually introduced by pronouns or adverbs. In Basque, subordinating conjunctions are inflected for case. Here are the most common subordinating conjunctions in Basque:

Basque	Pronunciation	English
Nola	[nola]	how
Noiz	[noiθ]	when
Non	[non]	where
Zu	[θu]	that
Eta	[eta]	and (when used with the meaning of "also")
Bai	[bai]	yes (when used with the meaning of "that")

Here are some examples:

• Baskongadako errausketak Asparrena zabaldu zenetik hainbat alde eratorri ziren. Hala ere, alde horien izaera bera zen, bere hazkunde demografikoari nola ukitu ziola erakusten du. - Since Basque terrorism broke out, people from different sides came to Asparrena. However, their nature was the same, it shows how they focused on demographic growth.
• Zumardi egur bizkortu eta herrietako bandera - The wood of zumardi dried up when flags of the town were raised
• Hainbat garaian, elkartea alegia. Hala ere, harreman horiek hainbat recadod ekarri zizkioten, besteak beste non bizi ziren jakiteko hainbat modu konfidentzialetan sartzeko aukera. - At different times, the association, precisely. However, these relationships brought various messages, among other things to enter in many confidential ways to know where they lived.
• Badakizu zu gure dantza aurkitzen ez zarela - You know that you cannot find our dance
• Autoa erosi nuen eta laster atera nintzen - I bought a car and I left soon
• Aldez aurretik< b>bai - Yes, in advance

Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions are used to connect two corresponding elements that have equal grammatical weight. Correlative conjunctions usually come in pairs, with the first element expressing an idea and the second element providing further details or clarification. In Basque, correlative conjunctions are used as a pair, and the second element is preceded by the auxiliary "ha" or "hala".

Here are the most common correlative conjunctions in Basque:

Basque	Pronunciation	English
Bai...bait	[bai...bait]	both...and
Ez...edo	[es...edo]	either...or
Horretarako...hala ere	[horetarako...hala ere]	nevertheless...yet
Aspaldikoak direla...gaur egun	[aspaldikoak direla...gaur egun]	from long ago...until today

Here are some examples:

• Gure lurrean txakurren hainbat azken leku egokiak daude, Bai Haritza bait - In our land several last appropriate places of dogs, both Haritza and
• Senarrak izan ziren maiatzaren 11n Begoñako HERRI praktikari batzuen bila. Bi ordu pasa ziren segidan eman ziran norbaitek Begoñan ez azaldu edo ikusia. - Mrs. was on a search for some practical things of HERRI in Begoña on May 11. Two hours passed and then someone gave no indication of having seen or being there.
• Ondorioz, ikerkuntza honetan kritika feministaren bidez eredu errealitatearen esplorazioa sustatzeko xede izan dut, Horretarako markoa ere zehaztu nuen aurretik, hala ere nire asmoak hainbat markotan erreskontatzen duela jakin beharra izan nuen. - Consequently, I have aimed to support the exploration of real model through feminist criticism in this research. Nevertheless, I needed to know that my goals were still accounted in several frameworks.
• Spice Girls aspaldikoak direla gure bizitzan eta gaur egun pop kulturan mende batzuk joan dira, baina hark adierazitako gaietatik horretarako, batzuetan oso gutxi aldatu da. - Since Spice Girls are from a long time ago in our lives and they have gone through some centuries in pop culture, but from the topics they represent yet, few has changed.

Congratulations! You have learned about the use of conjunctions in Basque. With this knowledge, you can create more complex and precise sentences in the language, which will help you better communicate with Basque speakers. Keep practicing and studying to improve your skills and knowledge of Basque grammar, vocabulary, and culture!

Table of Contents - Basque Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Basque Language

• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Common Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Articles

• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Noun Gender and Number

  ---

Numbers and Counting

• Numbers 1-20
• Ordinal Numbers

  ---

Pronouns and Verb Conjugation

• Subject Pronouns
• Regular Verb Conjugation

  ---

Days, Months, and Seasons

• Days of the Week
• Months and Seasons

  ---

Questions and Negation

• Interrogative Words
• Forming Questions
• Negation

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Describing Relationships

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Comparatives and Superlatives
• Adverbs

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Common Prepositions
• Conjunctions

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Vocabulary

  ---

Basque Culture and Traditions

• History and Geography
• Festivals and Celebrations

Other Lessons

• Questions
• Possessive Case in Basque
• 0 to A1 Course
• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Noun Gender and Number
• Conditional Mood
• Regular Verb Conjugation
• Basic elements of the sentence
• Indefinite Articles in Basque

Sources

• A Grammar of Basque
• Basque Grammar - Negation
• Is Basque an S. O. V. language?