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Introduction

9. To Be or Not To Be - Egon and the NON(Inessive) Case

Egon (To Be)

Southern Basque (like Spanish) has two different verbs that can be translated as "to be"; Izan and Egon.
Izan, discussed earlier, is used for facts or qualities that are fairly permanent, fixed attributes of something.
For example:
- Mutila naiz. I am a boy.
- Hura handia da. He is big.
- Ni Italiarra naiz. I am Italian.
Egon is used to express temporary states or locations. For example:
- Mutila zikina dago. The boy is dirty.
- Mikel Donostian dago. Mikel is in San Sebastian.
- Euskal herrian dago. He/She is in Basque country.
- Etxean nago. I am at home.
Northern Basque (in France) does not have this distinction, so "to be" is translated as izan in almost all contexts.
In Northern Basque, egon is used to mean "to stay" instead of "to be", so
"Euskal herrian dago" would mean "I am staying in Basque Country" not "I am in Basque Country".
Note that both Egon and Izan are also used to describe feelings. Nekatuta nago. I am tired.(Emotions will be covered later in this course).
When using Egon (or Izan in Northern Basque) to show that a subject is in or at a location you need to use the Inessive case, which answers the question NON - where.

Inessive(NON) Case

The inessive NON case is only used with inanimate objects and is used to show the subject is in, on or upon something/someplace.
In this lesson you will be introduced to the single definite form of the NON - Inessive
The NON - Inessive case is used to show that the subject(s) is in/on/upon the ojbect(s).
Single definite
- Ending: -(E)AN
- Examples: etxeAN (in a house) haranEAN (in a valley)
When adding suffixes, A+E = E, A+A=A, others are added, like exEEtan.
Egon can also be used to mean "There is" or "There are" (Hontza da/dago There is an owl), but normally to emphasis the existence of something, the affirmative particle "ba-" is used with the conjugated verbs and placed before the subject. - Badago hontza.
Note that the ba- particle is not used with negative sentences.
- Txoria dago zuhaitzean. The bird is in the tree.
- Badago txori bat zuhaitzean. There is a bird in the tree.
- Ez dago txori zuhaitzean. There is not a bird in the tree.

Vocabulary Egon 1

Ni nago: I am
Zu zaude: You are
Hura dago: He/she/it is
Gu gaude: We are
Zuek zaudete: You (plural) are
Haiek daude: They are
zuhaitz: tree
non: where
kanpo: outside
barruan: inside

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Words

Basque	English	Images
Ni nago	I am	['iam1', 'iam2', 'iam3']
zu zaude	you are	['you1', 'you2', 'you3']
hura dago	he is,she is,it is	['he3', 'she3', 'he2']
gu gaude	We are	['we1', 'we2', 'we3']
zuek zaudete	you (plural) are,you'll are,you are	['you1', 'you2', 'you3']
haiek daude	they are	['they1', 'they2', 'they3']
zuhaitz	tree	['tree1', 'tree2', 'tree3']
non	where	['where1', 'where2', 'where3']
kanpo	outside	['outside1', 'outside2', 'outside3']
barruan	inside	['inside1', 'inside2', 'inside3']

Phrases

Arratsalde on. Non zaude zu? Arratsalde on. Non zaude?	Good Afternoon. Where are you?
Ni etxean nago. Etxean nago.	I am in the house. I am in a house.
Barkatu. Ni on nago? Barkatu. Non nago?	Excuse me. Where am I?
Egun on. Zu gure ostatuan zaude. Egun on. Gure ostatuan zaude.	Good morning. You are in our mini-hotel.
Non dago etxekoandrea?	Where is the housewife? Where is a housewife?
Etxekoandrea barruan dago.	The housewife is inside. A housewife is inside.
Non dago arrotza?	Where is the stranger? Where is a stranger?
Arrotza hotelan dago.	The stranger is in a hotel. A stranger is in a hotel.
Barkatu. Gu non gaude? Barkatu. Non gaude?	Excuse me. Where are we?
Egun on. Gu elizan gaude. Egun on. Elizan gaude.	Good Morning. We are in the church. Good Morning. We are in a church.
Zuek kanpoan zaudete. Gu barruan gaude. Zuek kanpoan zaudete. Barruan gaude. Kanpoan zaudete. Gu barruan gaude. Kanpoan zaudete. Barruan gaude.	You(plural) are outside. We are inside. You'll are outside. We are inside. You are outside. We are inside.
Zuek elizan ere zaudete. Elizan ere zaudete.	You(plural) are also in the church. You(plural) are also in a church. You'll are also in the church. You'll are also in a church. You are also in the church. You are also in a church.
Apaizak elizan daude.	The priests are in the church.
Badaude hontzak elizan.	There are owls in the church.
Txoria dago zuhaitzean.	A bird is in the tree. A bird is in a tree. The bird is in a tree. The bird is in the tree.
Non gaude gu?	Where are we?
Gu ostatuan gaude. Ostatuan gaude.	We are in the mini-hotel. We are in a mini-hotel
Non daude erlojuak?	Where are the watches?
Haiek poltsan daude. Poltsan daude.	They are in the purse. They are in a purse.
Mutila dago zuhaitzean.	A boy is in the tree. A boy is in a tree. The boy is in a tree. The boy is in the tree.
Oilaskoak ere kanpoan daude.	The chickens are also outside. Chickens are also outside.
Sagua barruan dago	The mouse is inside. A mouse is inside.
Sugea ez dago barruan.	The snake is not inside. A snake is not inside.

Dictionary

English	Basque
Aitor's	('Aitorren (male name)',)
Anitza's	('Anitzarenak (female name, plural object)',)
Lili	('Lili (LibreLingo Turtle)',)
Mikel	('Mikel (male name)',)
Mikel's	('Mikelenak (male name)',)
Miren's	('Miren (female name)',)
Miren's	('Mirenen (female name)',)
Xabier's	('Xabieren (male name)',)
a	('-a',)
also	('ere',)
am	('naiz (izan)', 'nago (egon)')
an	('-ak',)
and	('eta',)
animal	('animalia',)
animals	('animaliak',)
are	('dira (izan)', 'zara (izan)', 'gara (izan)', 'zaude (egon)', 'gaude (egon)', 'zaudete (egon)', 'daude (egon)')
aunt	('izeba',)
aunt's	('izebare',)
ball	('baloi',)
balls	('baloiak',)
backpack	('motxila',)
backpacks	('motxilak',)
bicycle	('bizikleta',)
bicycles	('bizikletak',)
big	('handi',)
bird	('txoria',)
birds	('txoriak',)
black	('beltz',)
blue	('urdin',)
book	('liburu',)
books	('liburuak',)
boy	('mutil',)
boys	('mutilak',)
boyfriend	('mutillaguna',)
brother	('neba', 'anaia')
brother's	('neban', 'anaian')
bus	('autobusa',)
but	('baina',)
car	('kotxea',)
cars	('kotxeak',)
cat	('katu',)
cats	('katuak',)
chicken	('oilasko',)
chickens	('oilaskoak',)
child	('ume',)
children	('umeak', 'seme-alba')
church	('eliza',)
churches	('elizak',)
cousin	('lehengusu', 'lehengusina')
daughter	('alaba',)
daughters	('alabak',)
daughter's	('alabaren',)
doctor	('medikua',)
dog	('txakur', 'txakurra')
dogs	('txakurrak',)
engineer	('ingeniari',)
fast	('azkar',)
fat	('gizena',)
father	('aita',)
fathers	('aitak',)
father's	('aitaren',)
female	('emakumezkoa',)
friend	('laguna',)
friend's	('lagunen',)
friends'	('lagunaren',)
girl	('neska',)
girls	('neskak',)
girlfriend	('neskalaguna',)
gray	('gris',)
grandchildren	('bilobak',)
granddaughter	('biloba',)
grandparents	('aiton-amonak',)
grandfather	('aiton',)
grandfather	('aitona',)
grandfather's	('aitonaren',)
grandmother	('amon',)
grandmother	('amona',)
grandmother's	('amonaren',)
grandson	('biloba',)
green	('berde',)
guide	('gida',)
hau	('hau',)
he	('hura',)
his	('bere', 'berea')
her	('bere',)
hers	('berea',)
horse	('zaldia',)
hotel	('hotel',)
hotels	('hotelak',)
house	('etxea',)
hura	('hura',)
husband	('senarra',)
I	('ni',)
in	('NON case, not a word',)
inside	('barruan',)
is	('da (izan)', 'dago (egon)')
it	('hura',)
its	('berea',)
look!	('begira!',)
male	('gizonezkoa',)
man	('gizon',)
mine	('nirea',)
mini-hotel	('ostatu',)
owls	('hontzak',)
mother	('ama',)
mother's	('amaren',)
mothers	('amak',)
mouse	('sagua',)
my	('nire',)
new	('berri',)
nephew	('iloba',)
nephews	('ilobak',)
nice	('jatora',)
niece	('iloba',)
nieces	('ilobak',)
no	('ez',)
not	('ez',)
now	('orain',)
of	('de',)
officer	('ofiziala',)
old	('zahar',)
one	('bat',)
orange	('laranja',)
our	('gure',)
ours	('gurea',)
outside	('kanpo',)
over	('amaitu',)
owl	('hontza',)
parents	('gurasoak',)
pen	('boligrafo',)
pencil	('arkatza',)
pencils	('arkatzak',)
pens	('boligrafoak',)
police	('polizia',)
plural	('plurala',)
pretty	('polit',)
purple	('morea',)
purse	('poltsa',)
purses	('poltsak',)
red	('gorri',)
school	('eskola',)
she	('hura',)
short	('labur',)
sister	('ahizpa', 'arreba')
sister's	('ahizpan', 'arreban')
slow	('motel',)
snake	('sugea',)
son	('seme',)
sons	('semeak',)
son's	('semearen',)
small	('txiki',)
students	('ikasleak',)
students'	('ikasleenak',)
tall	('altu',)
teacher	('irakaslea',)
that	('hori', 'hura')
the	('-a',)
there	('hor',)
these	('hauek',)
their	('haien',)
theirs	('haiena',)
they	('haiek',)
thin	('argal',)
this	('hau',)
those	('haiek', 'horiek')
tour	('tour',)
tourist	('turista',)
tree	('zuhaitz',)
turtle	('dortoka',)
turtles	('dortokak',)
ugly	('itsusi',)
umbrella	('aterki',)
umbrellas	('aterkiak',)
uncle	('osaba',)
uncle's	('osabaren',)
was	('zen',)
watch	('erloju',)
watches	('erlojuak',)
we	('gu',)
what	('zer',)
where	('non',)
which	('zein',)
white	('zuri',)
who	('nor',)
whose	('noren',)
wife	('emaztea',)
woman	('emakumea',)
yellow	('hori',)
you	('zu',)
young	('gazte',)
your	('zure',)
yours	('zurea', 'zuena')

Basque	English
Aitorren	("Aitor's (male name)",)
Anitzarenak	("Anitza's (female name, plural object)",)
Lili	('Lili (LibreLingo Turtle)',)
Mikel	('Mikel (male name)',)
Mikelenak	("Mikel's (male name)",)
Miren	("Miren's (female name)",)
Mirenen	("Miren's (female name)",)
Xabieren	("Xabier's (male name)",)
ahizpa	('sister of a sister',)
ahizpan	("sister's",)
aiton-amonak	('grandparents',)
aiton	('grandfather',)
aitona	('grandfather',)
aitonaren	("grandfather's",)
aita	('father',)
aitaren	("father's",)
alaba	('daughter',)
alabak	('daughters',)
alabaren	("daughter's",)
altua	('tall',)
ama	('mother',)
amaren	("mother's",)
amon	('grandmother',)
amona	('grandmother',)
amonaren	("grandmother's",)
anaia	('brother of a brother',)
anaian	("brother of a brother's",)
animalia	('animal',)
animaliak	('animals',)
argala	('thin',)
arkatza	('pencil',)
arkatzak	('pencils',)
arreba	('sister of a brother',)
aterki	('umbrella',)
aterkia	('umbrella',)
aterkiak	('umbrellas',)
autobus	('bus',)
autobusa	('bus',)
azkarra	('fast',)
badaude	('there are',)
baina	('but',)
baloi	('ball',)
baloia	('ball',)
baloiak	('balls',)
barruan	('inside',)
bat	('one',)
begira!	('look!',)
beltz	('black',)
beltza	('black',)
berde	('green',)
berdea	('green',)
berdeak	('green',)
bere	('his', 'hers', 'its')
berea	('his', 'hers', 'its')
berria	('new',)
biloba	('grandson', 'granddaughter')
bilobak	('grandchildren',)
bizikleta	('bicycle',)
bizikletak	('bicycles',)
boligrafo	('pen',)
boligrafoa	('pen',)
boligrafoak	('pens',)
da	('he is (izan)', 'she is (izan)', 'it is (izan)')
dago	('he is (egon)', 'she is (egon)', 'it is (egon)')
daude	('they are (egon)',)
dira	('are (izan)',)
dortoka	('a turtle',)
dortokak	('turtles',)
eliza	('church',)
elizan	('in a church',)
elizetan	('in the churches',)
emakumea	('woman',)
emaztea	('wife',)
ere	('also',)
erloju	('watch',)
erlojua	('watch',)
erlojuak	('watches',)
eskola	('school',)
eta	('and',)
etxe	('house',)
etxea	('house',)
etxean	('in the house',)
ez	('not, no',)
gara	('are (izan)',)
gaude	('are (egon)',)
gaztea	('young',)
gizon	('man',)
gida	('guide',)
gizen	('fat',)
gizena	('fat',)
gorri	('red',)
gorria	('red',)
gris	('gray',)
grisa	('gray',)
grisak	('gray',)
gurasoak	('parents',)
gu	('we',)
gure	('our',)
gurea	('ours',)
gureak	('ours',)
haiek	('those over there, plural of hura', 'they')
handia	('big',)
handiak	('big',)
hau	('this',)
hauek	('These, plural of hau',)
haiena	('theirs',)
haien	('their',)
hontz	('owl',)
hontza	('owl',)
hontzak	('owls',)
hori	('that', 'yellow')
horia	('yellow',)
horiak	('yellow',)
horiek	('Those, plural of hori',)
hotel	('hotel',)
hotelak	('hotels',)
hotelan	('in the hotel',)
hura	('that over there', 'he', 'she', 'it')
ikasleak	('students',)
ikasleenak	("students'",)
iloba	('niece', 'nephew')
ilobak	('nieces', 'nephews')
ingeniari	('engineer',)
ingeniaria	('engineer',)
irakaslea	('teacher',)
itsusia	('ugly',)
izeba	('aunt',)
izebare	("aunt's",)
jatora	('nice',)
kanpo	('outside',)
kanpoan	('located outside',)
katu	('cat',)
katua	('a cat',)
katuak	('cats',)
kotxe	('car',)
kotxea	('car',)
kotxeak	('cars',)
laburra	('short',)
lagun	('friend',)
laguna	('friend',)
lagunen	("friend's",)
lagunaren	("friend's",)
laranja	('orange',)
laranjak	('orange',)
lehengusu	('cousin (male)',)
lehengusua	('cousin (male)',)
lehengusina	('cousin (female)',)
liburu	('book',)
liburua	('a book',)
liburua	('books',)
liburuak	('books',)
medikua	('doctor',)
motxila	('backpack',)
motxilak	('backpacks',)
morea	('purple',)
motela	('slow',)
mutil	('boy',)
mutila	('boy',)
mutilak	('boys',)
mutillaguna	('boyfriend',)
naiz	('I am (izan)',)
nago	('I am (egon)',)
neba	('brother of a sister',)
neska	('girl',)
neskak	('girls',)
neskalaguna	('girlfriend',)
ni	('I',)
nire	('my',)
nirea	('mine',)
nireak	('mine',)
non	('where',)
nor	('who',)
noren	('whose',)
norena	('whose',)
norenak	('whose (plural)',)
oilasko	('chicken',)
oilaskoa	('a chicken',)
oilaskoak	('chickens',)
orain	('now',)
osaba	('uncle',)
osabaren	("uncle's",)
ostatu	('mini-hotel',)
ostatua	('mini-hotel',)
ostatuan	('in a mini-hotel',)
polita	('pretty',)
poltsa	('purse',)
poltsak	('purses',)
poltsan	('in the purse',)
polizia	('police officer',)
sagu	('mouse',)
sagua	('mouse',)
seme	('son',)
semea	('son',)
semeak	('sons',)
semearen	("son's",)
seme-alba	('children',)
seme-albak	('children', 'sons and daughters')
senarra	('husband',)
sugea	('snake',)
tour	('tour',)
turista	('tourist',)
txakur	('dog',)
txakurra	('a dog',)
txakurrak	('dogs',)
txikia	('small',)
txori	('bird',)
txoria	('bird',)
txoriak	('birds',)
ume	('child',)
umea	('child',)
umeak	('children',)
urdin	('blue',)
urdina	('blue',)
urdinak	('blue',)
uso	('pigeon',)
usoa	('a pigeon',)
usoak	('pigeons',)
zahara	('old',)
zaharra	('old',)
zaharrak	('old',)
zaldi	('horse',)
zaldia	('a horse',)
zara	('you are (izan)',)
zarete	('their',)
zaude	('you are (egon)',)
zaudete	('you (plural) are (egon)',)
zein	('which',)
zen	('was',)
zer	('what',)
zu	('you',)
zuek	('your (plural)',)
zuen	('yours',)
zuena	('yours (plural)',)
zuenak	('yours (plural)',)
zuhaitz	('tree',)
zuhaitzean	('in a tree',)
zure	('your',)
zurea	('yours',)
zureak	('yours',)
zuri	('white',)
zuria	('white',)
zuriak	('white',)