Asteburuko planak — talking about plans and intentions
You already know how to build the future tense. Now it’s time to use it for what it’s really for in daily life: making plans. This lesson gives you the future time markers and structures to express intentions and decisions.
Future markers
| English | Basque |
|---|---|
| Tomorrow | bihar |
| The day after tomorrow | etzi |
| This afternoon / tonight | gaur arratsaldean / gaur gauean |
| The weekend | asteburuan |
| Next week | datorren astean |
| Next month | datorren hilean |
| Next year | datorren urtean |
| Soon | laster |
| On vacation | oporretan |
Useful symmetry: atzo ↔ bihar (yesterday ↔ tomorrow) and herenegun ↔ etzi (the day before yesterday ↔ the day after tomorrow). Joan den astean (last week, the one that went) ↔ datorren astean (the one that comes). Basque says it literally: joan = to go, etorri (dator) = to come.
The key question
Zer egingo duzu asteburuan? — What will you do on the weekend?
And its typical answers:
Larunbatean mendira joango naiz, eta igandean etxean geratuko naiz, lasai. — On Saturday I’ll go to the mountain and on Sunday I’ll stay home, relaxing.
Oraindik ez dakit. Agian lagunekin aterako naiz. — I don’t know yet. Maybe I’ll go out with friends.
Intentions and decisions
| English | Basque | Nuance |
|---|---|---|
| I intend to travel | Bidaiatzeko asmoa dut | a plan in your head |
| I’ve decided to change jobs | Lanez aldatzea erabaki dut | a decision that has been made |
| I feel like going | Joateko gogoa daukat | a desire / a craving |
| I’m thinking of going | Joateko asmotan nabil | I’m toying with the idea |
The common structure: verbo + -t(z)eko + sustantivo (asmoa/gogoa). With what you already know about -tzeko (purpose), this will come naturally.
Examples in context
Datorren urtean euskara-azterketa bat egiteko asmoa dut. — Next year I intend to take a Basque exam.
Aurten ez dugu oporrik hartuko; dirua aurreztuko dugu eta datorren udan Grezia ezagutuko dugu. — This year we won’t take a vacation; we’ll save money and next summer we’ll visit Greece.
Laster jakingo dugu emaitza. — We’ll know the result soon.
Dialogue
— Aizu, zer egingo duzu etzi arratsaldean?
— Etzi… ostirala da, ezta? Lanetik irten eta gimnasiora joango naiz. Zergatik?
— Kontzertu bat dago Gasteizen. Sarrerak erosteko asmoa dut.
— Ederra plana! Ni ere apuntatzen naiz. Gimnasioa datorren astean ere hor egongo da. 😄
Mini-text: my plans
Datorren hilean lan berria hasiko dut. Lehenengo astean jende berria ezagutuko dut eta dena ikasi beharko dut. Urduri nago, baina gogotsu: azkenean, benetan gustatzen zaidan zerbait egingo dut. Asteburuan lagunekin ospatuko dut — afari eder bat prestatuko dugu eta berandu arte egongo gara hizketan.
Ejercicios
"Etzi" means…
Which one expresses an INTENTION (not a sure thing)?
"Next week" is…
What will you do this weekend? = Zer duzu asteburu honetan?
I intend to study Basque = euskara ikasteko dut.