Today we'll learn one big, big grammar point in euskara. Once you know this, you'll have covered the major difficulties of euskara. The rest is "small" technical points, and of course, use of the language. I'll split this course in two.
We'll talk about... dative.
Codename: Nori case
1. About names/adjectives in dative
No big troubles here.
Reminders
With a consonnant:
Let's take the word mutil (a boy).
Absolutive: mutil mutila mutilak
Ergative: mutilek mutilak mutilek
Dative: mutili mutilari mutilei
With a vocal:
Let's take the word arreba (boy's sister)
Absolutive: arreba arreba arrebak
Ergative: arrebek arrebak arrebek
Dative: arrebai arrebari arrebei
(with the rule that a+a=a, a+e=e, etc...)
Nothing difficult here ? You have in front of you the three cases that articulate the whole Basque conjugation system. If you don't see what I mean, read part 2.
2. Nor-Nori-Nork, the Basque verbal song...
If you remember it well enough, you know that the auxiliary declines according to the subject and the direct object. Now I can tell you that it does the same with indirect objects.
Let's take simple examples. With the verb eman (to give), this is really easy.
I give a present to my brother
Nik opari bat nire anaiari eman diot.
Diot: D+i+o+t
D= direct object 3rd sing
I= root of ukan
O= indirect object 3rd sing
T= subject 3rd sing
I give a present to my brothers
Nik opari bat bire anaiei eman diet
Diet: D+i+e+t
D= direct object 3rd sing
I= root of ukan
E= indirect object 3rd plur
T= subject 3rd sing
These declension is called nor-nori-nork, because of the order in the auxiliary (in comparison with "simpler" nor-nork).
The plural for direct object is no more "it" but "zki"
I give two presents to my brothers
Nik bi opari nire anaiei eman dizkiet.
Okay, I think it is enough for today !!!
See you next time for the end of the dative case.
Zoroa