The same as: equality through bezain
To compare two things "on equal terms", Basque has one particle bezain: Hau hura bezain handia da — this is as big as that, literally "this that as-much big is". The order is strict: thing — thing — bezain — adjective — link. For example: “Hau hura bezain handia da” — This is as big as that. A rule from the Basque course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
To compare two things "on equal terms", Basque has one particle bezain: Hau hura bezain handia da — this is as big as that, literally "this that as-much big is". The order is strict: thing — thing — bezain — adjective — link.
The negation falls on the link: Ez da uste nuen bezain garestia — not as expensive as I thought. And with time you already know bezain from wave 5: iristen den bezain laster — as soon as I arrive. One particle holds both the growth of people and the speed of trains.
Table
| the meaning | the form | the example |
|---|---|---|
| the same as | X Y bezain ADJ da | Hau hura bezain handia da |
| not the same as | ez da … bezain | Ez da uste nuen bezain garestia |
| as soon as (time) | bezain laster | Iristen den bezain laster deituko dut |
By example
- Hau hura bezain handia daThis is as big as that
- Nire anaia zu bezain garaia daMy brother is as tall as you
- Ez da uste nuen bezain garestiaIt is not as expensive as I thought
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
The same as: how does it work in Basque?
To compare two things "on equal terms", Basque has one particle bezain: Hau hura bezain handia da — this is as big as that, literally "this that as-much big is". The order is strict: thing — thing — bezain — adjective — link.
What does it look like in an example sentence Basque?
“Hau hura bezain handia da” — This is as big as that. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.