​Basics 2

The NOR/Absolutive case

• This lesson continues introducing the main parts of the first case in Basque, the NOR/Absolutive case, which is used with the subject of intransitive verbs (verbs without objects) and the object of transitive verbs(verbs with objects), which will be discussed later.

Nor Case, Single Definite

• Single definite

  • Ending: -a
  • Example: EtxeA (the house)

• The single definite form of Basque nouns is used give Basque nouns the equivalent of an English article (a/an/the).

• Izan sentences use the NOR case, so you would add "-a" (mutil → mutila) to single nouns.

• Note: If the word ends in an "a" in the Indefinite form, another is not added in the Single Definite form.

• Ex: Neska (girl, a girl, the girl)

Also, if the indefinite form of the word ends in an "r", for the Single Definite form the "r" is normally, but not always, doubled.

• Ex: Txakur - txakurra, but paper - papera (not paperra).

Ere(also):

• Note that the word "ere" goes before the noun it is modifying.
• Miren ere neska da. Miren is also a girl.

Izan (to be)

• Izan sentences use the NOR case mentioned above, so you would add "-a" (mutil → mutila) for single definite nouns.

Vocabulary Basics 2

• gizona: the man
• emakumea: the woman
• mutila: the boy
• ere: also
• ikasle: student
• ikaslea: the student
• irakalse: teacher
• irakalsea : the teacher
• Epa!: Hi!

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