17 Postpositions 1

17 Basque Postpositions and Noren or Genitive case.

• In this chapter Basque pospositions related to location will be introduced.
• Basque postpositions follow the word or noun phrase they are related, unlike English prepositions that go before.
• Ex: Mutilaren GAINEAN – ON/ABOUT the boy.

Genitive Case Postpositions

• The postpositions in this lesson cause the noun/noun phrase being referred to to be in the Noren or Genitive case.
• The Genetive/NOREN case was discusse in Unit 7 Whose umbrella?*EtxeAREN gainean – on/about the house.

Genetive/NOREN Case

Indefinite Case

• • (r)en

• EtxeREN - house’s

• MutilEN - boy’s

Single definite

• -aren
• EtxeAREN – the house’s
• MutilAREN – the boy’s

Plural definite

• -en
• EtxeEN - the houses’
• MutilEN - boys’

Proper names

• Proper names are usually not declined.
• Mikel not Mikelen

Egon with locations

• Note that when discussing locations, with or without postpositions, the verb Egon is used.
• Noren gainean dago? Who is he/she/it on/over.
• Mikel neska baten aurrean dago. Mikel is in front of one girl. (Indefinite)
• Zuhaitzaren atzean dago. He/She/It is behind the tree. (Single)
• Liburuen azpian dago. He/She/It is under the books. (Plural)
• Dortoka Mikel gainean dago. The turtle is on top of Mikel. (proper)
• Note: In common usage single nouns are often not declined. Mikel (not Mikelen) gainean dago.

Vocabulary Postpositions 1

• artean: between
• atzean: behind
• aurrean: in front (of)
• azpian: under
• gainean: on/over
• ondoan: next to, beside
• ezkerrean: On the left(inessive of ezker(left))
• eskuinean: On the right(inessive of eskuin(right))