Subordinator Affixes
The forms of verbs cited throughout the general presentation of the finite verb system are normally those that occur in main clauses. (However, certain forms, such as the non-potential hypothetic, e.g. -litz, or the subjunctive, e.g. etor dadi-, never occur in such main-clause forms and these are therefore cited in subordinate forms such as balitz, etor dadin etc.)
In subordinate clauses, the finite verb takes a subordinator affix, i.e. a suffix or prefix which establishes (to some extent) the kind of subordination. Basically there are four such affixes, two suffixes and two prefixes, and one (and only one) of these is found in every subordinate form.
| Subordinator | Form | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| -(e)n | suffix | relative clauses, indirect questions, other uses |
| -(e)la | suffix | indirect statements, circumstantial clauses |
| ba- | prefix | conditions |
| bai(t)- | prefix | explanations |
Both of the suffixes, however, may take further suffixes (mostly nominal declension suffixes) which serve to further specify the type of subordination. The following table provides a brief overview of some of the main uses and forms.
| Affix | Function | Examples | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suffixed to finite forms: | -(e)n | indirect question | Ez dakit nor den. 'I don't know who he/she is.' (Cf. Nor da? 'Who is he/she?') |
| relative clause | Hor dabilen gizona nire aita da. 'The man who is walking there is my father.' (Cf. Hor dabil gizona. 'The man is walking there.') | ||
| complement or purpose clause (with subjunctive) |
|
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| first-person optative |
Edan dezagun! 'Let us drink!' |
||
| -(e)nik | negation-polarity complement clause |
Ez dut esan etorriko denik. 'I didn't say (that) he is going to come.' |
|
| -(e)nean | time clause, 'when' |
Etortzen denean esango diot. 'When she comes I will tell her.' |
|
| -(e)nez | manner, 'as' |
|
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| -(e)la | indirect statement |
Uste dut etorriko dela. 'I think she will come.' |
|
| circumstance clause |
Kaletik zetorrela hauxe kantatu zuen. 'As she came (walking) along the street, this is what she sang.' |
||
| complement clause (with subjunctive) |
Hona etor dadila esango diot. 'I will tell him to come here.' |
||
| third-person optative |
Berak jan dezala! 'Let him eat it!' |
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| -(e)larik | time/circumstance clause ('while, when') |
Ondo pasako duzu euskara ikasten ari zarelarik. 'You will have a good time while/when (you are) learning Basque.' |
|
| -(e)lako | reason clause, 'because' |
Zuk deitu didazulako etorri naiz. 'I have come because you called me.' |
|
| Prefixed to finite forms: | ba- | condition clause |
Euskara ikasten baduzu, euskaldunak ulertuko dituzu. 'If you learn the Basque language, you will understand the Basques.' |
| bai(t)- | explanatory or reason clause |
Ez baituzu euskara ikasi, ez dituzu euskaldunak ulertzen. 'Since you haven't learnt Basque, you don't understand the Basques.' |
Read more about this topic: Basque Verbs