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MASTER ESTONIAN GRAMMAR

Estonian grammar is fortunately easy to learn! This Grammar Section is designed to make learning the rules as quick as possible so you can start building your own sentences. Unlike other course we want you to familiarise with the most important rules to speak Hungarian from today.

The sections below cover everything you need to know from basic sentence construction and verb conjugations to more complex topics like noun cases, gender agreements, together with practical examples to help you understand and memorise the Estonian grammar rules. Be sure to learn the core 2000 Estonian vocabulary first so you can follow the examples more easily.

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Estonian Alphabet and Pronunciation

The Estonian alphabet consists of 27 letters. It is based on the Latin script:

A B D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S Š Z Ž T U V Õ Ä Ö Ü

  • Special Letters:

    • Õ: A distinct sound not found in many other languages.

    • Ä, Ö, Ü: Similar to the umlaut vowels in German.

    • Š, Ž: Borrowed from Slavic languages, used in loanwords.

  • Missing Letters:
    C, Q, W, X, and Y are not native to Estonian but might appear in foreign words or names.

Estonian Vowels

Estonian vowels are pronounced clearly and distinctly, and they play a crucial role in meaning. There are 9 vowels, and each has a short and long form:

  • A, E, I, O, U: Similar to their sounds in many European languages.

  • Õ: A unique vowel, pronounced somewhat like the "uh" in duh but more rounded.

  • Ä: Sounds like "a" in cat.

  • Ö: Similar to the "eu" in French peur.

  • Ü: Like the German ü or the French u in lune.

Estonian vowels can be short, long, or overlong. The length of a vowel can change the meaning of a word. For example:

  • mõtlen (I think) vs. mõõtlen (I measure).

Estonian Consonants

Most Estonian consonants are pronounced as they are written, making the language relatively phonetic. However, there are a few notable points:

  • H: Always pronounced, even in word-final positions.

  • Š, Ž: Similar to the "sh" in sheep and the "zh" in treasure, respectively.

  • R: Rolled, similar to Spanish.

  • J: Pronounced like the English y in yes.

Estonian Nouns

In Estonian, the grammar related to nouns differs significantly from many Indo-European languages. Estonian is a Uralic language, and one of its distinguishing features is the absence of grammatical gender. Additionally, noun number in Estonian follows simpler rules compared to languages with extensive declension systems for both singular and plural forms.

Gender of Nouns in Estonian

Unlike many languages, Estonian does not have grammatical gender. This means that nouns are not classified as masculine, feminine, or neuter. Estonian nouns are treated uniformly, and the pronouns used for people do not change based on gender.

For example:

  • inimeneperson

  • lapschild

When referring to a person, Estonian uses the gender-neutral pronoun tema (he/she). The absence of gender distinctions simplifies sentence construction, especially for language learners.

Example:

  • Tema on arst.He/She is a doctor.

  • Tema nimi on Mari.Her name is Mari.

  • Tema nimi on Jaan.His name is Jaan.

Here, the pronoun tema remains the same regardless of whether it refers to a man or a woman.

Number of Nouns in Estonian

Estonian nouns have two numbers: singular and plural. Forming the plural in Estonian involves several patterns, but there are no gender-based changes. The plural form is typically created by adding a suffix to the singular form of the noun. However, the specific suffix depends on the word's declension class.

Singular and Plural Examples
  1. raamatbook
    raamatudbooks

  2. lapschild
    lapsedchildren

  3. koolschool
    koolidschools

Notice that different suffixes are used to form the plural, such as -ud, -ed, and -id. There is no single rule for determining which suffix to use; instead, learners must familiarize themselves with common patterns.

Special Cases

Some nouns undergo changes to their stem when forming the plural. These changes may involve vowel alterations or consonant doubling.

  1. õdesister
    õedsisters (note the loss of the final vowel in the plural)

  2. kätt (partitive of käsi) – hand
    käedhands (note the change from -tt to -ed)

Estonian plural formation can also involve the use of partitive forms in specific contexts. This aspect of the language becomes important when constructing sentences involving quantity or indefinite amounts.

Use of Plural with Numbers

When a noun is used with a number, Estonian often requires the partitive singular form rather than the plural. This rule differs from many languages where the noun appears in the plural after a numeral greater than one.

Examples:

  • kaks raamatuttwo books
    (raamatut is in the partitive singular, not the plural raamatud)

  • kolm lastthree children
    (last is in the partitive singular, not the plural lapsed)

This construction is consistent in Estonian grammar. Learners should remember that only the numeral one allows the use of the nominative singular.

Example:

  • üks raamatone book

Cases in Estonian

Estonian nouns are inflected for case, meaning that their endings change depending on their role in the sentence. Cases in Estonian express grammatical functions such as subject, object, location, and possession, among others. Estonian has 14 cases, each with its own specific purpose. This case system is essential for understanding and forming grammatically correct sentences.

In Estonian, cases are indicated by adding specific suffixes to the noun stem. Below is a detailed explanation of the most common cases, along with examples.

1. Nominative Case – Nimetav

The nominative case is the base form of the noun and is used for the subject of the sentence. It answers the question "who?" or "what?".

Examples:

  • koer jooksebthe dog runs

  • laps mängibthe child plays

2. Genitive Case – Omastav

The genitive case is used to show possession or to modify another noun. It answers the question "whose?".

Examples:

  • koera sabathe dog’s tail

  • lapse mänguasjadthe child’s toys

The genitive form is also used to form the singular object in Estonian sentences.

Example:

  • Ma ostan raamatu.I buy a book.

3. Partitive Case – Osastav

The partitive case expresses partial objects, indefinite amounts, or ongoing actions. It answers the question "of what?" or "how much?".

Examples:

  • joon vettI drink water

  • näen koeraI see a dog

  • söön leibaI eat bread

It is also commonly used with numbers greater than one:

  • kaks raamatuttwo books

  • viis lastfive children

4. Illative Case – Sisseütlev

The illative case indicates movement into something and answers the question "into what?".

Examples:

  • lähen tuppaI go into the room

  • panen raamatu kottiI put the book into the bag

5. Inessive Case – Seesütlev

The inessive case is used to indicate being inside something. It answers the question "in what?".

Examples:

  • raamat on kapisthe book is in the cupboard

  • laps on toasthe child is in the room

6. Elative Case – Seestütlev

The elative case indicates movement out of something and answers the question "out of what?".

Examples:

  • tulen majastI come out of the house

  • võtan asja kotistI take the thing out of the bag

7. Allative Case – Alaleütlev

The allative case is used to express movement onto a surface and answers the question "onto what?".

Examples:

  • lähen laualeI go onto the table

  • panen raamatu riiulileI put the book onto the shelf

8. Adessive Case – Alalütlev

The adessive case indicates being on a surface and answers the question "on what?".

Examples:

  • raamat on laualthe book is on the table

  • laps seisab tänavalthe child stands on the street

The adessive case is also used to indicate possession, similar to the verb "to have" in English:

  • Mul on auto.I have a car.
    (Literally: On me is a car.)

9. Ablative Case – Alaltütlev

The ablative case indicates movement off a surface and answers the question "off what?".

Examples:

  • võtan raamatu laualtI take the book off the table

  • hüppan toolilt mahaI jump off the chair

10. Translative Case – Saav

The translative case is used to indicate a change in state or condition and answers the question "into what?" or "as what?".

Examples:

  • õpin õpetajaksI am studying to become a teacher

  • värvin seina punaseksI paint the wall red

11. Terminative Case – Rajav

The terminative case indicates the endpoint of an action or movement and answers the question "up to where?" or "until what?".

Examples:

  • kõnnin metsaniI walk up to the forest

  • ootan kella viieniI wait until five o’clock

12. Essive Case – Olev

The essive case indicates a temporary state or role and answers the question "as what?".

Examples:

  • töötan õpetajanaI work as a teacher

  • kasutan seda toolinaI use it as a chair

13. Abessive Case – Ilmaütlev

The abessive case indicates the absence of something and answers the question "without what?".

Examples:

  • lähen ilma vihmavarjutaI go without an umbrella

  • söön leiba võitaI eat bread without butter

14. Comitative Case – Kaasaütlev

The comitative case expresses accompaniment and answers the question "with what?".

Examples:

  • tulen sõbragaI come with a friend

  • kirjutan pastakagaI write with a pen

Adjectives in Estonian

Adjectives in Estonian are words that describe or modify nouns. Like in many other languages, Estonian adjectives provide additional information about nouns by indicating qualities such as size, color, quantity, or other attributes. Estonian adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in number and case. However, there is no agreement for gender since Estonian, as a Uralic language, does not have grammatical gender.

Basic Use of Adjectives

In Estonian, adjectives are usually placed before the noun they modify. In their simplest form, they do not change when describing a singular noun in the nominative case (the subject form).

Examples:

  • ilus majaa beautiful house

  • suur koera big dog

  • roheline puua green tree

When adjectives are used predicatively (after the verb to be), they also remain in their base form in the nominative case.

Examples:

  • Maja on ilus.The house is beautiful.

  • Koer on suur.The dog is big.

Declension of Adjectives

Estonian adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in both number and case. This means that when a noun is in a particular case, the adjective must take the corresponding form.

Genitive Case

When a noun is in the genitive case (showing possession or being the object of certain verbs), the adjective takes the genitive form.

Examples:

  • ilusa maja uksthe door of the beautiful house

  • suure koera sabathe tail of the big dog

Partitive Case

When a noun is in the partitive case (indicating partial objects or indefinite amounts), the adjective also takes the partitive form.

Examples:

  • Ma näen ilusat maja.I see a beautiful house.

  • Mul on suurt koera vaja.I need a big dog.

Plural Forms

When the noun is plural, the adjective must also take a plural form in the appropriate case.

Examples:

  • ilusad majadbeautiful houses (nominative plural)

  • ilusaid majubeautiful houses (partitive plural)

Comparison of Adjectives

In Estonian, adjectives can be compared in three degrees: positive, comparative, and superlative. These are used to indicate increasing or decreasing qualities.

Positive Degree

The positive degree is the base form of the adjective and describes a quality without comparison.

Examples:

  • ilus tüdruka beautiful girl

  • kallis autoan expensive car

Comparative Degree

The comparative degree is used to indicate that something has a greater degree of a quality than something else. It is formed by adding the suffix -m to the stem of the adjective.

Examples:

  • See maja on ilusam kui see.This house is more beautiful than that one.

  • Koer on suurem kui kass.The dog is bigger than the cat.

Note that kui (than) is used to introduce the second element of comparison.

Superlative Degree

The superlative degree is used to indicate the highest degree of a quality. It is formed by adding the suffix -im to the stem of the adjective.

Examples:

  • See on kõige ilusaim maja.This is the most beautiful house.

  • Ta on suurim koer.He is the biggest dog.

Alternatively, the superlative can also be expressed by using kõige (most) before the adjective in its comparative form:

  • See on kõige ilusam maja.This is the most beautiful house.

Special Cases in Adjective Use

Adjectives with the Verb ‘Olla’ (To Be)

Adjectives are often used with the verb olla (to be) to describe the state or quality of a noun.

Examples:

  • Lilled on ilusad.The flowers are beautiful.

  • Tuba on puhas.The room is clean.

Adjectives with Quantifiers

When adjectives are used with quantifiers (such as numbers or words like many), the noun is usually in the partitive plural, and the adjective agrees with it accordingly.

Examples:

  • palju ilusaid majumany beautiful houses

  • kolm suurt koerathree big dogs

Adjectives as Nouns

In Estonian, adjectives can be used as nouns to refer to people or things with a particular quality. In such cases, the adjective is capitalized and takes noun endings.

Examples:

  • Rikas aitab vaest.The rich helps the poor.

  • Tark õpib kogu elu.The wise learns all life long.

Adjective Formation

Estonian has several suffixes that can be added to nouns or verb stems to create adjectives.

Examples:

  • töö (work) → tööline (working)

  • kivi (stone) → kivine (stony)

  • sööma (to eat) → söödav (edible)

These derived adjectives follow the same rules of declension and comparison as regular adjectives.

Pronouns in Estonian

Pronouns in Estonian are an essential part of the language, offering a way to replace nouns in sentences and make communication smoother and more efficient. Estonian, like other Finno-Ugric languages, has a distinct approach to pronouns, influenced by its rich system of cases and its lack of grammatical gender.

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns in Estonian are used to refer to specific people or things. They vary depending on the person (first, second, third), number (singular, plural), and grammatical case. Importantly, Estonian does not distinguish between genders in the third person.

  • Singular Forms:

    • MinaI
      Example: Mina olen õpetaja. I am a teacher.

    • SinaYou (singular)
      Example: Sina oled õpilane. You are a student.

    • TemaHe/She/It
      Example: Tema loeb raamatut. He/She is reading a book.

  • Plural Forms:

    • MeieWe
      Example: Meie läheme koju. We are going home.

    • TeieYou (plural or formal singular)
      Example: Teie olete külalised. You are guests.

    • NemadThey
      Example: Nemad elavad Tallinnas. They live in Tallinn.

Estonian cases play a crucial role in modifying personal pronouns. For example:

  • Genitive case (used for possession): minu (my), sinu (your), tema (his/her/its), etc.
    Example: See on minu raamat. This is my book.

  • Partitive case (used for incomplete objects): mind (me), sind (you), teda (him/her), etc.
    Example: Ma näen sind. I see you.

Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and the object of the sentence are the same. In Estonian, the reflexive pronoun is ise, which remains invariable but can take various forms depending on the case and sentence structure.

Examples:

  • Ma teen seda ise. I will do it myself.

  • Ta rääkis iseendaga. He/She talked to himself/herself.

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns show ownership. In Estonian, these pronouns agree with the noun they modify in terms of case.

Examples:

  • See on minu koer. This is my dog.

  • Meie maja on suur. Our house is big.

  • Nende auto on uus. Their car is new.

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns indicate specific things or people. The primary demonstrative pronouns in Estonian are see (this) and see (that), but they can change according to case and context.

Examples:

  • See on ilus. This is beautiful.

  • Too on kaugel. That one is far away.

Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used for asking questions. Common interrogative pronouns in Estonian include kes (who), mis (what), milline (which), and kelle (whose).

Examples:

  • Kes sa oled? Who are you?

  • Mis see on? What is this?

  • Milline neist on õige? Which one of these is correct?

  • Kelle raamat see on? Whose book is this?

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns refer to non-specific people or things. Common indefinite pronouns in Estonian include keegi (someone), midagi (something), mitte keegi (no one), and mitte midagi (nothing).

Examples:

  • Keegi helistas sulle. Someone called you.

  • Ma ei näinud mitte midagi. I didn’t see anything.

Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns connect clauses and refer back to a noun or pronoun mentioned earlier in the sentence. In Estonian, the most common relative pronoun is kes (who) for people and mis (which/that) for things.

Examples:

  • See on mees, kes aitas meid. This is the man who helped us.

  • Raamat, mis sa ostsid, on huvitav. The book that you bought is interesting.

Emphatic Pronouns

Emphatic pronouns are used for emphasis. In Estonian, these are often formed by combining personal pronouns with the word ise.

Examples:

  • Mina ise teen selle. I myself will do it.

  • Tema ise ütles seda. He/She himself/herself said it.

Negative Pronouns

Negative pronouns are used to indicate the absence of people or things. Common examples are mitte keegi (no one) and mitte miski (nothing).

Examples:

  • Mitte keegi ei tea vastust. No one knows the answer.

  • Mitte miski ei aita teda. Nothing helps him/her.

Understanding and mastering pronouns in Estonian is essential for effective communication, as they interact with the language's rich case system. Practice using pronouns in context to become more fluent and confident in your Estonian language skills!

Prepositions in Estonian

Unlike English, where prepositions are always placed before a noun or pronoun, Estonian prepositions often require the noun to be in a specific case, such as the genitive, partitive, or nominative. Prepositions are used less frequently than in many Indo-European languages, as case endings in Estonian often convey meanings that prepositions might otherwise express.

Examples:

  • Pärast tööd ma lähen koju. After work, I go home.

  • Ilma sinuta ma ei lähe. Without you, I won’t go.

In these examples, the nouns tööd (work) and sinuta (without you) are in specific forms dictated by the prepositions pärast (after) and ilma (without).

Commonly Used Prepositions

Here is a detailed look at some of the most frequently used prepositions in Estonian, their meanings, and how they function with cases:

  • Pärast (after): This preposition is used with the genitive case to indicate time or sequence.

    • Example: Pärast kohtumist räägime. We will talk after the meeting.

  • Ilma (without): Used with the abessive case (ending in -ta) to express the absence of something.

    • Example: Ilma temata on raske. Without him/her, it’s difficult.

  • Kuni (until): Often used to indicate time or limits, without requiring a specific case.

    • Example: Kuni homseni ootan. I will wait until tomorrow.

  • Kohta (about): Typically follows the partitive case, used to describe a topic or subject matter.

    • Example: Ma lugesin raamatu kohta. I read about the book.

  • Umbes (approximately, about): Used to express an approximation and does not govern a case.

    • Example: Umbes sada inimest tuli. About a hundred people came.

  • Vastu (against): Takes the allative case to express opposition or physical contact.

    • Example: Ta surus vastu ust. He/She pushed against the door.

  • Järgi (according to): Used with the genitive case to indicate accordance or conformity.

    • Example: Reeglite järgi see on keelatud. According to the rules, this is forbidden.

  • Ees (in front of): Indicates a position and requires the genitive case.

    • Example: Auto seisab maja ees. The car is standing in front of the house.

Prepositions and Word Order

In Estonian, the preposition typically precedes the noun or pronoun it modifies. However, the interaction between prepositions and case endings means that the exact form of the noun or pronoun is critical. This differs from English, where prepositions are fixed and do not affect the form of the following word.

Example:

  • Ilma sinuta ma ei lähe. Without you, I won’t go.
    Here, sinuta includes the abessive case ending -ta, which aligns with the preposition ilma.

Prepositions vs. Postpositions

Estonian often uses postpositions—words placed after the noun or pronoun—to express relationships that other languages might use prepositions for. For instance, where English uses "on the table," Estonian might use a structure involving a postposition like peal (on).

Comparison:

  • Prepositional Example: Pärast tööd ma puhkan. After work, I rest.

  • Postpositional Example: Raamat on laua peal. The book is on the table.

Compound Prepositions

Estonian also uses compound prepositions, which are formed by combining a preposition with another word or phrase. These are often used to express more complex relationships.

Examples:

  • Seoses sellega (in connection with that): Used to describe related matters.

    • Example: Seoses ilmaga jääb üritus ära. Due to the weather, the event is canceled.

  • Tänu millelegi (thanks to something): Indicates gratitude or a positive outcome due to a reason.

    • Example: Tänu sinu abile me saime valmis. Thanks to your help, we finished.

Temporal and Spatial Prepositions

Temporal and spatial relationships are common contexts where prepositions are used in Estonian. These prepositions are often accompanied by specific cases.

  • Ajal (during): Requires the genitive case and refers to a time period.

    • Example: Sõja ajal inimesed kannatasid. During the war, people suffered.

  • Jooksul (over the course of): Refers to a span of time.

    • Example: Nädala jooksul ma puhastan toa. Over the course of the week, I’ll clean the room.

  • Peale (onto, after): Indicates motion or sequence.

    • Example: Pärast tööd mine peale bussi. After work, get onto the bus.

Idiomatic Usage of Prepositions

Prepositions in Estonian are often used in idiomatic expressions that may not directly translate word-for-word into English.

Examples:

  • Läbi raskuste tähtede poole. Through hardships to the stars.

  • Üle kivide ja kändude. Over rocks and stumps (used to describe something difficult or troublesome).

Adverbs in Estonian

Adverbs in Estonian are an integral part of the language, providing information about how, when, where, or to what extent actions occur. They modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or entire sentences. Estonian adverbs are versatile and can be categorized based on their function, form, and origin.

Adverbs in Estonian typically describe:

  • Manner (how something happens),

  • Time (when something happens),

  • Place (where something happens),

  • Degree (to what extent something happens).

They are often single words, but Estonian also uses adverbial phrases. Adverbs can be derived from adjectives, nouns, or other word forms, and their form may change depending on how they are constructed.

Example:

  • Ta räägib kiiresti. He/She speaks quickly.

  • Me kohtume homme. We will meet tomorrow.

Types of Adverbs in Estonian

Adverbs of Manner

Adverbs of manner describe how an action is performed. Many of these are formed by adding the suffix -sti to the stem of an adjective.

Examples:

  • Kiiresti (quickly): Derived from kiire (quick).
    Ta sõidab kiiresti. He/She drives quickly.

  • Selgelt (clearly): Derived from selge (clear).
    Ta räägib väga selgelt. He/She speaks very clearly.

  • Aeglaselt (slowly): Derived from aeglane (slow).
    Ta liigub aeglaselt. He/She moves slowly.

Adverbs of Time

Adverbs of time specify when an action occurs. These words are often unchangeable.

Examples:

  • Homme (tomorrow):
    Ma lähen homme tööle. I will go to work tomorrow.

  • Eile (yesterday):
    Eile sadas vihma. It rained yesterday.

  • Praegu (now):
    Praegu on liiga hilja. It is too late now.

  • Varsti (soon):
    Me lahkume varsti. We will leave soon.

Adverbs of Place

Adverbs of place indicate the location or direction of an action. Many of these adverbs are related to spatial relationships.

Examples:

  • Siin (here):
    Ma olen siin. I am here.

  • Seal (there):
    Seal on mu auto. My car is there.

  • Kodus (at home):
    Ma olen praegu kodus. I am at home now.

  • Eemale (away):
    Ta läks eemale. He/She went away.

Adverbs of Degree

Adverbs of degree modify the intensity of an adjective, adverb, or verb.

Examples:

  • Väga (very):
    See on väga huvitav. This is very interesting.

  • Üsna (quite):
    See film oli üsna hea. This movie was quite good.

  • Liiga (too):
    See on liiga raske. This is too difficult.

  • Täiesti (completely):
    Ma olen täiesti valmis. I am completely ready.

Formation of Adverbs

From Adjectives

Many Estonian adverbs are derived from adjectives by adding suffixes such as -sti or -lt. These suffixes transform adjectives into adverbs of manner.

Examples:

  • Ilus (beautiful) → Ilusasti (beautifully):
    Ta laulab ilusasti. He/She sings beautifully.

  • Vaikne (quiet) → Vaikselt (quietly):
    Rääkige palun vaikselt. Please speak quietly.

From Nouns

Adverbs can also be derived from nouns, often with the help of case endings.

Examples:

  • Hommik (morning) → Hommikul (in the morning):
    Ma ärkan vara hommikul. I wake up early in the morning.

  • Õhtu (evening) → Õhtul (in the evening):
    Kohtume õhtul. We will meet in the evening.

From Verbs

Some adverbs are formed from verb stems. These typically express manner or frequency.

Example:

  • Kordama (to repeat) → Korduvalt (repeatedly):
    Ta küsis korduvalt. He/She asked repeatedly.

Position of Adverbs in Sentences

In Estonian, adverbs are typically placed:

  1. Before the verb when modifying it. Example: Ta alati naerab. He/She always laughs.

  2. After the verb for emphasis. Example: Ta räägib selgelt. He/She speaks clearly.

  3. At the beginning of the sentence for emphasis or context. Example: Homme me läheme randa. Tomorrow, we will go to the beach.

Comparative and Superlative Forms of Adverbs

Some adverbs can take comparative and superlative forms, particularly those derived from adjectives.

Examples:

  • Kiiresti (quickly):
    Comparative: Kiiremini (more quickly).
    Ta jookseb kiiremini kui mina. He/She runs more quickly than I do. Superlative: Kõige kiiremini (the most quickly).
    Ta jookseb kõige kiiremini. He/She runs the most quickly.

  • Aeglaselt (slowly):
    Comparative: Aeglasemalt (more slowly).
    Ta räägib aeglasemalt kui varem. He/She speaks more slowly than before. Superlative: Kõige aeglasemalt (the most slowly).
    Ta räägib kõige aeglasemalt. He/She speaks the most slowly.

Negative Adverbs

Estonian also uses negative adverbs to negate or minimize actions, qualities, or circumstances.

Examples:

  • Mitte (not):
    Ta ei tulnud mitte siia. He/She did not come here.

  • Kunagi (never):
    Ma ei unusta seda kunagi. I will never forget this.

  • Mitte kuskil (nowhere):
    Mitte kuskil pole vaikne. Nowhere is quiet.

Idiomatic Expressions with Adverbs

Adverbs often appear in idiomatic expressions in Estonian, adding flavor and nuance to the language.

Examples:

  • Päevast päeva (day after day):
    Ta teeb tööd päevast päeva. He/She works day after day.

  • Otse loomulikult (of course):
    Otse loomulikult ma aitan sind. Of course, I will help you.

Prepositions in Estonian

The present tense in Estonian is used to describe actions or states that are happening now, habitual actions, or general truths. Estonian verbs in the present tense conjugate according to the person (first, second, third) and number (singular, plural), but they do not indicate gender.

Structure of the Present Tense

The present tense in Estonian is formed by taking the verb stem and adding the appropriate personal ending. Estonian verbs in the present tense do not require auxiliary verbs (such as am, is, are in English), making conjugation more straightforward. The verb forms change depending on the subject of the sentence.

Conjugation of Verbs in the Present Tense

Here are the personal pronouns in Estonian and how verbs are conjugated in the present tense for each one. The examples will use the verb rääkima (to speak), which has the stem räägi- in the present tense.

  • Mina (I):
    Mina räägin. I speak.
    The ending is -n, added to the stem.

  • Sina (You, singular/informal):
    Sina räägid. You speak.
    The ending is -d, added to the stem.

  • Tema (He/She/It):
    Tema räägib. He/She speaks.
    The ending is -b, added to the stem.

  • Meie (We):
    Meie räägime. We speak.
    The ending is -me, added to the stem.

  • Teie (You, plural or formal singular):
    Teie räägite. You speak.
    The ending is -te, added to the stem.

  • Nemad (They):
    Nemad räägivad. They speak.
    The ending is -vad, added to the stem.

Formation of the Present Tense

The present tense conjugation of a verb generally involves three main steps:

  1. Identify the infinitive form: For example, rääkima (to speak).

  2. Find the present tense stem: Remove the infinitive ending -ma, resulting in räägi-.

  3. Add the appropriate personal ending: Add -n, -d, -b, -me, -te, or -vad depending on the subject.

Examples with Different Verbs

Below are examples of the present tense conjugation with other common verbs:

  • Minema (to go): Stem: lähe-

    • Mina lähen. I go.

    • Sina lähed. You go.

    • Tema läheb. He/She goes.

    • Meie läheme. We go.

    • Teie lähete. You go.

    • Nemad lähevad. They go.

  • Tegema (to do): Stem: tege-

    • Mina teen. I do.

    • Sina teed. You do.

    • Tema teeb. He/She does.

    • Meie teeme. We do.

    • Teie teete. You do.

    • Nemad teevad. They do.

  • Armastama (to love): Stem: armasta-

    • Mina armastan. I love.

    • Sina armastad. You love.

    • Tema armastab. He/She loves.

    • Meie armastame. We love.

    • Teie armastate. You love.

    • Nemad armastavad. They love.

Use of the Present Tense

The present tense in Estonian is versatile and used in various contexts:

Actions Happening Now

The present tense is used to describe actions that are occurring at the moment of speaking.

  • Ma loen raamatut. I am reading a book.

  • Sa õpid eesti keelt. You are learning Estonian.

Habitual Actions

The present tense describes habitual or regular actions.

  • Ta käib iga päev koolis. He/She goes to school every day.

  • Me sööme hommikuti putru. We eat porridge in the mornings.

General Truths

The present tense is used to state facts or universal truths.

  • Päike tõuseb idast. The sun rises in the east.

  • Vesi keeb 100 kraadi juures. Water boils at 100 degrees.

Negation in the Present Tense

To negate a verb in the present tense, Estonian uses the negative particle ei in front of the verb. The verb itself does not take a personal ending in negation.

Examples:

  • Mina ei räägi. I do not speak.

  • Sina ei lähe. You do not go.

  • Tema ei armasta. He/She does not love.

  • Meie ei tee. We do not do.

  • Teie ei loe. You do not read.

  • Nemad ei õpi. They do not study.

Reflexive Verbs in the Present Tense

Some Estonian verbs are reflexive, meaning they reflect the action back onto the subject. Reflexive verbs often end in -ma or -ta, and their conjugation follows the same rules as regular verbs.

Example: Pesema (to wash oneself):

  • Mina pesen. I wash myself.

  • Sina pesed. You wash yourself.

  • Tema peseb. He/She washes himself/herself.

  • Meie peseme. We wash ourselves.

  • Teie pesete. You wash yourselves.

  • Nemad pesevad. They wash themselves.

Special Notes on the Present Tense

  • No Continuous Form: Unlike English, Estonian does not have a continuous tense (e.g., I am eating). The present tense in Estonian can express both simple and continuous actions depending on context.
    Example: Ma joon kohvi. I drink coffee or I am drinking coffee.

  • Irregular Verbs: A small number of verbs in Estonian have irregular present tense forms. These need to be memorized individually. For instance:

    • Olen (I am), oled (you are), on (he/she is), oleme (we are), olete (you are), on (they are).

Past Tense in Estonian

The past tense in Estonian is used to describe actions or states that occurred in the past. Estonian primarily uses a single past tense, the simple past (or imperfect), to convey all kinds of past actions. This is different from many other languages that have multiple past tenses for different contexts. The formation and use of the past tense in Estonian are straightforward but require an understanding of verb stems and endings.

In Estonian, the past tense is formed by adding specific endings to the verb stem. These endings vary depending on the person (first, second, third) and number (singular, plural). There is no distinction of gender in the conjugation of Estonian verbs, which simplifies usage compared to some other languages.

The past tense endings are attached to the verb's stem (the part of the verb that remains after removing the infinitive ending -ma).

Conjugation of Verbs in the Past Tense

Here is how verbs conjugate in the past tense for all personal pronouns. We will use the verb rääkima (to speak), which has the past stem rääkis-.

  • Mina (I):
    Mina rääkisin. I spoke.
    The ending -in is added to the stem.

  • Sina (You, singular/informal):
    Sina rääkisid. You spoke.
    The ending -id is added to the stem.

  • Tema (He/She/It):
    Tema rääkis. He/She spoke.
    The third person singular has no additional ending beyond the stem.

  • Meie (We):
    Meie rääkisime. We spoke.
    The ending -ime is added to the stem.

  • Teie (You, plural or formal singular):
    Teie rääkisite. You spoke.
    The ending -ite is added to the stem.

  • Nemad (They):
    Nemad rääkisid. They spoke.
    The ending -id is added to the stem.

Formation of the Past Tense

To form the past tense:

  1. Start with the verb's infinitive form: rääkima (to speak).

  2. Remove the -ma ending to find the stem: rääki-.

  3. Add the past tense marker -s: rääkis-.

  4. Add the personal endings: -in, -id, -ime, -ite, or -id (for plural).

Examples with Different Verbs

Let’s explore how other common verbs conjugate in the past tense.

  • Minema (to go): Stem: läks-

    • Mina läksin. I went.

    • Sina läksid. You went.

    • Tema läks. He/She went.

    • Meie läksime. We went.

    • Teie läksite. You went.

    • Nemad läksid. They went.

  • Tegema (to do): Stem: teg-

    • Mina tegin. I did.

    • Sina tegid. You did.

    • Tema tegi. He/She did.

    • Meie tegime. We did.

    • Teie tegite. You did.

    • Nemad tegid. They did.

  • Sööma (to eat): Stem: sõi-

    • Mina sõin. I ate.

    • Sina sõid. You ate.

    • Tema sõi. He/She ate.

    • Meie sõime. We ate.

    • Teie sõite. You ate.

    • Nemad sõid. They ate.

Uses of the Past Tense

The past tense in Estonian has several key uses:

Actions That Happened in the Past

The past tense is used to describe actions that were completed in the past.

  • Ma käisin eile poes. I went to the store yesterday.

  • Ta õppis eesti keelt. He/She studied Estonian.

Habitual Actions in the Past

The past tense can describe habitual or repeated actions in the past.

Future Tense in Estonian

Estonian does not have a distinct future tense as found in many other languages. Instead, future actions or states are expressed using the present tense, combined with context or specific adverbs of time. This system makes Estonian simpler in terms of verb conjugation, as learners do not need to memorize separate forms for future tense. However, it also requires careful attention to context and time expressions to clearly convey future intentions.

This article explains how to express future actions in Estonian, the use of adverbs and context, and examples with conjugations for all personal pronouns.

Expressing the Future in Estonian

In Estonian, the present tense is used to describe actions or events that will take place in the future. Time adverbs such as homme (tomorrow), varsti (soon), järgmine nädal (next week), or peagi (shortly) are often included to clarify that the action refers to the future.

Examples:

  • Ma lähen homme tööle. I will go to work tomorrow.

  • Ta kirjutab varsti raamatu. He/She will write a book soon.

  • Me läheme järgmisel nädalal reisile. We will go on a trip next week.

In these examples, the verbs lähen (I go), kirjutab (he/she writes), and läheme (we go) are in the present tense, but the adverbs homme, varsti, and järgmisel nädalal make it clear that the actions are in the future.

Conjugation of Verbs for the Future

Because Estonian uses the present tense to express the future, verb conjugations for the future are the same as those for the present tense. Below is how verbs conjugate with all personal pronouns using the verb minema (to go).

  • Mina (I):
    Mina lähen. I will go.

  • Sina (You, singular/informal):
    Sina lähed. You will go.

  • Tema (He/She/It):
    Tema läheb. He/She will go.

  • Meie (We):
    Meie läheme. We will go.

  • Teie (You, plural or formal singular):
    Teie lähete. You will go.

  • Nemad (They):
    Nemad lähevad. They will go.

Notice that these forms are identical to the present tense. Context (e.g., homme) determines whether the sentence refers to the present or the future.

Examples with Common Verbs

Here are more examples of expressing future actions with different verbs:

  • Tegema (to do):

    • Mina teen homme tööd. I will do work tomorrow.

    • Sina teed varsti süüa. You will cook soon.

    • Tema teeb järgmisel nädalal trenni. He/She will work out next week.

    • Meie teeme sel nädalavahetusel plaane. We will make plans this weekend.

    • Teie teete homme parandustöid. You will do repairs tomorrow.

    • Nemad teevad peagi midagi uut. They will do something new shortly.

  • Kirjutama (to write):

    • Mina kirjutan järgmisel kuul raporti. I will write a report next month.

    • Sina kirjutad peagi raamatu. You will write a book soon.

    • Tema kirjutab homme e-kirja. He/She will write an email tomorrow.

    • Meie kirjutame järgmisel nädalal artikli. We will write an article next week.

    • Teie kirjutate varsti aruande. You will write a report soon.

    • Nemad kirjutavad homme postkaardi. They will write a postcard tomorrow.

Contextual Markers for the Future

Since Estonian relies on context to indicate future time, certain words and phrases are commonly used to signal that an action refers to the future:

  • Homme (tomorrow):
    Example: Ma lähen homme kooli. I will go to school tomorrow.

  • Varsti (soon):
    Example: Ta tuleb varsti tagasi. He/She will come back soon.

  • Peagi (shortly):
    Example: Me alustame peagi. We will start shortly.

  • Järgmisel nädalal (next week):
    Example: Nad reisivad järgmisel nädalal. They will travel next week.

  • Järgmisel kuul (next month):
    Example: Saadame selle järgmisel kuul. We will send it next month.

  • Aasta pärast (in a year):
    Example: Ma lõpetan kooli aasta pärast. I will finish school in a year.

Using Modal Verbs for the Future

Modal verbs such as võima (can), tahtma (want), pidama (must), and saama (be able to) are often used to express intentions or possibilities in the future.

Examples:

  • Ma tahan homme kinno minna. I want to go to the cinema tomorrow.

  • Sa võid varsti koju minna. You can go home soon.

  • Ta peab järgmisel nädalal aruande esitama. He/She must submit the report next week.

  • Me saame homme alustada. We will be able to start tomorrow.

Reflexive Verbs in the Future

Reflexive verbs in Estonian also use the present tense to refer to future actions. The reflexive meaning remains the same.

Examples with pesema (to wash oneself):

  • Mina pesen end homme hommikul. I will wash myself tomorrow morning.

  • Sina pesed end varsti. You will wash yourself soon.

  • Tema peseb end järgmisel päeval. He/She will wash himself/herself the next day.

  • Meie peseme end peagi. We will wash ourselves shortly.

  • Teie pesete end homme õhtul. You will wash yourselves tomorrow evening.

  • Nemad pesevad end hiljem. They will wash themselves later.

Negative Sentences in the Future

Negating future actions in Estonian is straightforward: use the negative particle ei with the present tense form of the verb. Context and time markers still indicate that the action refers to the future.

Examples:

  • Ma ei lähe homme tööle. I will not go to work tomorrow.

  • Sina ei kirjuta järgmisel nädalal. You will not write next week.

  • Tema ei tee varsti süüa. He/She will not cook soon.

  • Meie ei lähe sel kuul reisile. We will not go on a trip this month.

  • Teie ei tule homme koosolekule. You will not come to the meeting tomorrow.

  • Nemad ei õpi homme. They will not study tomorrow.

Imperative in Estonian

The imperative mood in Estonian is used to give commands, make requests, offer suggestions, or provide instructions. The imperative has forms for singular, plural, and polite address, as well as for the first and third persons, which allow for more nuanced expressions of direction.

In Estonian, the imperative is expressed through specific verb forms that are conjugated based on the person and number:

  • Second-person singular (informal): Used when addressing one person informally.

  • Second-person plural (formal or group): Used when addressing multiple people or one person formally.

  • First-person plural: Used for inclusive commands or suggestions (e.g., "Let us...").

  • Third-person singular and plural: Used to express indirect commands.

The imperative mood is created from the stem of the verb, often with specific suffixes added.

Formation of the Imperative

Second-Person Singular (Informal)

The singular imperative is typically formed by taking the stem of the verb and removing the infinitive ending -ma. No additional ending is required.

Examples:

  • Tule! Come! (from tulemato come)

  • Loe! Read! (from lugemato read)

  • Kirjuta! Write! (from kirjutamato write)

Second-Person Plural (Formal or Group)

For the plural or formal imperative, the ending -ge or -ke is added to the stem. The choice depends on the verb's phonological structure.

Examples:

  • Tulge! Come! (formal or plural)

  • Lugege! Read! (formal or plural)

  • Kirjutage! Write! (formal or plural)

First-Person Plural

To express a command or suggestion involving "let us", the ending -me is added to the verb stem.

Examples:

  • Lähme! Let us go! (from minemato go)

  • Teeme! Let us do! (from tegemato do)

  • Õppime! Let us study! (from õppimato study)

Third-Person Singular and Plural

The third-person imperative, often translated as "let him/her/it..." or "let them...," uses the particle lasku (let) or las followed by the verb in the infinitive.

Examples:

  • Lasku ta tulla! Let him/her come!

  • Las nad lähevad! Let them go!

Examples of Imperative Conjugation

Let’s examine how the verb rääkima (to speak) is conjugated in the imperative mood for all personal pronouns:

  • Second-Person Singular:
    Räägi! Speak! (informal)

  • Second-Person Plural:
    Rääkige! Speak! (formal or plural)

  • First-Person Plural:
    Räägime! Let us speak!

  • Third-Person Singular:
    Lasku ta räägib! Let him/her speak!

  • Third-Person Plural:
    Las nad räägivad! Let them speak!

Negative Imperative

To form the negative imperative in Estonian, the particle ära (do not) is placed before the verb. The verb remains in its imperative form.

Examples:

  • Ära tule! Do not come! (singular)

  • Ärge minge! Do not go! (plural or formal)

  • Ära räägi! Do not speak! (singular)

  • Ärge kirjutage! Do not write! (plural or formal)

Reflexive Verbs in the Imperative

When using reflexive verbs in the imperative mood, the reflexive pronoun is implied. The verb still follows the standard imperative formation rules.

Examples:

  • Pese! Wash yourself! (singular, from pesemato wash)

  • Peske! Wash yourselves! (plural or formal)

  • Hoolitse! Take care! (from hoolitsemato take care)

Uses of the Imperative Mood

The imperative mood is highly versatile in Estonian and can be used in the following contexts:

Commands

Used to issue direct orders or instructions.

  • Avage uks! Open the door!

  • Seisa siin! Stand here!

Requests

The imperative can be softened to make polite requests, often with the addition of palun (please).

  • Palun tule siia! Please come here!

  • Palun kirjutage oma nimi. Please write your name.

Suggestions

The first-person plural imperative is used to suggest joint actions.

  • Lähme jalutama! Let’s go for a walk!

  • Teeme selle ära! Let’s do this!

Indirect Commands

Indirect commands involve the third-person imperative.

  • Lasku ta proovib uuesti. Let him/her try again.

  • Las nad lõpetavad töö. Let them finish the work.

Special Notes on the Imperative Mood

  • Politeness: The second-person plural form (-ge, -ke) is often used as a polite way to address individuals, even when only one person is being spoken to.
    Example: Tulge siia! Please come here! (polite singular or plural)

  • Shortened Forms: In casual or colloquial speech, the imperative may be shortened.
    Example: Las ta tuleb. Let him/her come.

Passive in Estonian

The passive voice in Estonian is used to emphasize the action being performed rather than the doer of the action. It is common in formal, written, and impersonal contexts, as well as in everyday speech when the subject performing the action is unknown, irrelevant, or implied.

Estonian uses two main strategies to express the passive:

  1. Personal Passive: Conjugated forms used in sentences where the doer is known but not emphasized.

  2. Impersonal Passive: Forms used in truly impersonal constructions where no specific subject is indicated.

The Nature of the Passive in Estonian

In Estonian, the passive is expressed using specific verb endings or impersonal verb forms. Unlike some languages that have distinct auxiliary verbs to form the passive (e.g., "is" or "was" in English), Estonian relies on verb conjugations and suffixes to indicate the passive.

  • The personal passive agrees with the subject in number and person.

  • The impersonal passive uses a fixed verb form, regardless of the subject.

Formation of the Personal Passive

The personal passive is typically formed by adding -takse or -dakse to the verb stem. The choice depends on the verb's phonological structure.

Examples:

  • Tehakse (is done) from tegema (to do).

  • Öeldakse (is said) from ütlema (to say).

The personal passive is conjugated for all personal pronouns in the present and past tense. Below is how the verb tegema (to do) is conjugated in the passive voice for personal pronouns.

Present Tense Conjugation of the Passive (Personal Passive)
  • Mina (I): Tehakse minu poolt. It is done by me.

  • Sina (You, singular/informal): Tehakse sinu poolt. It is done by you.

  • Tema (He/She/It): Tehakse tema poolt. It is done by him/her.

  • Meie (We): Tehakse meie poolt. It is done by us.

  • Teie (You, plural or formal singular): Tehakse teie poolt. It is done by you.

  • Nemad (They): Tehakse nende poolt. It is done by them.

Formation of the Impersonal Passive

The impersonal passive is used when the doer of the action is not specified. It is formed by adding the suffix -takse (for present tense) or -ti (for past tense) to the verb stem.

Examples:

  • Lugema (to read): Loetakse (is being read), Loeti (was read).

  • Kirjutama (to write): Kirjutatakse (is being written), Kirjutati (was written).

Impersonal Passive Examples
  • Raamat loetakse läbi. The book is read through.

  • Kirjad kirjutati eile. The letters were written yesterday.

  • Siin süüakse hommikusööki. Breakfast is eaten here.

  • Uks avati. The door was opened.

Passive in the Present Tense

In the present tense, the personal passive uses -takse (or -dakse) to indicate actions that are happening now or habitually.

Examples:

  • Koogid küpsetatakse siin iga päev. Cakes are baked here every day.

  • Eesti keelt õpetatakse koolis. Estonian is taught at school.

  • Kirju loetakse hoolikalt. Letters are read carefully.

Passive in the Past Tense

In the past tense, the suffix -ti is used to indicate actions that occurred in the past.

Examples:

  • Koogid küpsetati eile. The cakes were baked yesterday.

  • Uks avati kell kümme. The door was opened at ten.

  • Eesti keelt õpetati eelmises klassis. Estonian was taught in the previous class.

Passive in Reflexive Verbs

When reflexive verbs are used in the passive, they follow the same rules for forming the passive but include the reflexive meaning.

Examples:

  • Pesema (to wash oneself): Pestakse (is being washed).
    Nägu pestakse igal hommikul. The face is washed every morning.

Use of the Passive

The passive voice is commonly used in Estonian in the following contexts:

When the Doer Is Unknown or Unimportant
  • Raamat loetakse läbi kiiresti. The book is read quickly.

  • Tänavat koristatakse. The street is being cleaned.

To Focus on the Action
  • Ametlik kiri saadeti eile. The official letter was sent yesterday.

  • Aknaid puhastatakse kevadel. Windows are cleaned in the spring.

In Formal or Impersonal Language
  • Koosolek lõpetati kell kolm. The meeting was ended at three.

  • Kõne peeti kiiresti. The speech was delivered quickly.

Negative Passive

To negate the passive, the negative particle ei is used before the verb. The verb remains in its passive form.

Examples:

  • Kirja ei kirjutata. The letter is not being written.

  • Koogid ei küpsetatud õigesti. The cakes were not baked correctly.

  • Seda ei tehta tihti. This is not done often.

Impersonal Passive in Different Tenses

Estonian does not use auxiliary verbs to form compound tenses in the passive. The same suffixes (-takse, -ti) apply for both present and past tenses.

Examples:

  • Raamat loetakse läbi igal nädalal. The book is read every week.

  • Raamat loeti läbi eelmisel nädalal. The book was read last week.

Negation in Estonian

Negation in Estonian is a straightforward but essential part of the language, used to form negative statements, commands, and questions. The core of negation revolves around the particle ei, which is placed before the verb. However, negation in Estonian interacts with verb conjugations, cases, and sentence structure in unique ways.

Negating Verbs

The primary method of negating verbs in Estonian is by placing the particle ei before the verb. When a verb is negated, it generally loses its personal ending, and the conjugation relies on ei to indicate the subject.

Present Tense Negation

In the present tense, the verb remains in its stem form when negated. The particle ei changes according to the subject.

Conjugation of rääkima (to speak) in the negative present tense:

  • Mina ei räägi. I do not speak.

  • Sina ei räägi. You (singular) do not speak.

  • Tema ei räägi. He/She/It does not speak.

  • Meie ei räägi. We do not speak.

  • Teie ei räägi. You (plural or formal) do not speak.

  • Nemad ei räägi. They do not speak.

Examples:

  • Ma ei tea. I do not know.

  • Sa ei näe mind. You do not see me.

  • Me ei lähe kinno. We are not going to the cinema.

Past Tense Negation

In the past tense, the particle ei is still used, but the verb remains in its stem form without a personal ending.

Conjugation of tegema (to do) in the negative past tense:

  • Mina ei teinud. I did not do.

  • Sina ei teinud. You (singular) did not do.

  • Tema ei teinud. He/She/It did not do.

  • Meie ei teinud. We did not do.

  • Teie ei teinud. You (plural or formal) did not do.

  • Nemad ei teinud. They did not do.

Examples:

  • Ma ei söönud hommikusööki. I did not eat breakfast.

  • Sa ei rääkinud tõtt. You did not speak the truth.

  • Nad ei tulnud koju. They did not come home.

Negating Commands

In the imperative mood, negation is formed by placing the particle ära (do not) before the verb. The verb itself remains in its imperative form.

Examples:

  • Ära tule siia! Do not come here!

  • Ärge unustage dokumente! Do not forget the documents!

  • Ära räägi nii valjult! Do not speak so loudly!

Negating Sentences Without Verbs

When negating sentences that do not contain verbs, the particle ei or other negative words like mitte (not) or pole (is not/are not) are used.

Examples:

  • See ei ole tõsi. This is not true.

  • Ma ei ole kodus. I am not at home.

  • See pole võimalik. It is not possible.

Negative Words and Expressions

Estonian has several words and expressions that inherently carry a negative meaning. These are often used in combination with negated verbs.

Common Negative Words
  • Ei (no, not): Used to negate verbs.
    Example: Ei, ma ei tule. No, I am not coming.

  • Pole (is not/are not): Contraction of ei ole.
    Example: Siin pole midagi. There is nothing here.

  • Mitte (not): Used for emphasis or in negating nouns, pronouns, and adverbs.
    Example: Mitte keegi ei tea. No one knows.

Negative Pronouns
  • Keegi (someone) → Mitte keegi (no one):
    Example: Mitte keegi ei tulnud. No one came.

  • Midagi (something) → Mitte midagi (nothing):
    Example: Ma ei näinud mitte midagi. I saw nothing.

  • Kuskil (somewhere) → Mitte kuskil (nowhere):
    Example: Ma ei leia seda mitte kuskil. I cannot find it anywhere.

Double Negation

In Estonian, double negatives are grammatically correct and commonly used to emphasize negation. Unlike in English, they do not cancel each other out but instead reinforce the negative meaning.

Examples:

  • Ma ei tea mitte midagi. I do not know anything.

  • Mitte keegi ei ütle midagi. No one says anything.

  • Sa ei leia seda mitte kuskilt. You cannot find it anywhere.

Questions in the Negative

Negative questions are formed by placing the particle ei before the verb, as in regular negation. The question word remains at the beginning of the sentence.

Examples:

  • Miks sa ei tulnud? Why didn’t you come?

  • Kas ta ei räägi eesti keelt? Doesn’t he/she speak Estonian?

  • Kus te ei ole käinud? Where have you not been?

Special Cases of Negation

Verb "to be" in Negation

The verb olema (to be) has unique negated forms:

  • Present tense: ei ole or pole.
    Example: Ma ei ole siin. I am not here.

  • Past tense: ei olnud.
    Example: Ta ei olnud kodus. He/She was not at home.

Reflexive Verbs in Negation

Reflexive verbs follow the same rules for negation as regular verbs. The reflexive pronoun remains implied.

Examples:

  • Ma ei pesnud. I did not wash myself.

  • Sa ei hoolitse enda eest. You do not take care of yourself.

Practice Examples with Common Verbs

Here are additional examples of negation with various verbs for clarity:

  • Minema (to go):
    Mina ei lähe. I am not going.
    Meie ei läinud. We did not go.

  • Sööma (to eat):
    Mina ei söö. I am not eating.
    Nemad ei söönud. They did not eat.

  • Tegema (to do):
    Sina ei tee. You do not do.
    Teie ei teinud. You (plural) did not do.

Word Order in Estonian

Word order in Estonian is relatively flexible compared to many other languages, thanks to its rich case system, which provides clues about the roles of words in a sentence. However, certain patterns are preferred for clarity, emphasis, and natural flow. Estonian typically follows the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) word order in neutral sentences but allows for variations depending on emphasis or context.

Basic Word Order: Subject-Verb-Object (SVO)

In a simple declarative sentence, Estonian uses the Subject-Verb-Object order. The subject performs the action, the verb describes the action, and the object receives the action.

Examples:

  • Mina loen raamatut. I am reading a book.

  • Tema kirjutab kirja. He/She is writing a letter.

  • Meie sööme õhtusööki. We are eating dinner.

Conjugations of rääkima (to speak) in the basic SVO order:

  • Mina räägin tõtt. I speak the truth.

  • Sina räägid tõtt. You (singular) speak the truth.

  • Tema räägib tõtt. He/She speaks the truth.

  • Meie räägime tõtt. We speak the truth.

  • Teie räägite tõtt. You (plural or formal) speak the truth.

  • Nemad räägivad tõtt. They speak the truth.

Questions and Word Order

Yes/No Questions

In yes/no questions, the verb often precedes the subject, forming a Verb-Subject-Object (VSO) structure. The question particle kas is often added at the beginning for clarity.

Examples:

  • Kas sa loed raamatut? Are you reading a book?

  • Kas tema kirjutab kirja? Is he/she writing a letter?

  • Kas nad söövad õhtusööki? Are they eating dinner?

Wh-Questions

In questions using interrogative words (e.g., who, what, where, when), the interrogative word comes first, followed by the verb and subject.

Examples:

  • Kes räägib tõtt? Who is speaking the truth?

  • Mida sa loed? What are you reading?

  • Kus te olete? Where are you?

Negative Sentences

In negative sentences, the negative particle ei is placed before the verb. The word order generally remains Subject-Negative-Verb-Object (SNVO).

Examples:

  • Mina ei loe raamatut. I am not reading a book.

  • Tema ei kirjuta kirja. He/She is not writing a letter.

  • Nemad ei söö õhtusööki. They are not eating dinner.

Emphasis and Flexible Word Order

Estonian allows for flexible word order to emphasize different parts of a sentence. The emphasized element is often placed at the beginning, regardless of whether it is the subject, object, or verb.

Examples:

  • Raamatut mina loen. It is the book that I am reading. (emphasis on the book)

  • Luges mina eile raamatut. I read a book yesterday. (emphasis on the action of reading)

  • Eile lugesin raamatut mina. Yesterday, I read a book. (emphasis on the subject)

Imperatives and Commands

In imperative sentences, the verb usually comes first, followed by the subject (if explicitly mentioned).

Examples:

  • Loe raamatut! Read the book!

  • Kirjutage kiri! Write the letter!

  • Tulge siia! Come here!

Negative commands follow a similar structure, with ära (do not) placed before the verb.

  • Ära loe seda! Do not read that!

  • Ärge kirjutage midagi! Do not write anything!

Adverbs and Word Order

Adverbs in Estonian are typically placed directly before the verb they modify. However, they can also appear at the beginning or end of the sentence for emphasis.

Examples:

  • Ma alati loen enne magamaminekut. I always read before going to bed.

  • Alati ma loen enne magamaminekut. I always read before going to bed. (emphasis on "always")

  • Ma loen enne magamaminekut alati. I read before going to bed always. (emphasis on "always")

Word Order in Subordinate Clauses

In subordinate clauses, the conjunction often appears at the beginning, and the word order becomes more rigid, typically following Subject-Verb-Object.

Examples:

  • Ma tean, et sa loed raamatut. I know that you are reading a book.

  • Ta ütles, et tema kirjutab kirja. He/She said that he/she is writing a letter.

  • Me arvame, et nad söövad õhtusööki. We think that they are eating dinner.

Position of Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns are usually placed before the verb but can shift based on emphasis or in responses to questions.

Examples:

  • Mina loen raamatut. I am reading a book. (neutral emphasis)

  • Raamatut loen mina. The book is being read by me. (emphasis on "me")

  • Kas sina loed raamatut? Are you reading a book?
    Jah, mina loen. Yes, I am reading.

Word Order in Complex Sentences

In complex sentences with multiple clauses, each clause may follow its own word order rules. Subordinate clauses often follow the main clause, separated by a comma.

Examples:

  • Ma loen raamatut, sest mul on igav. I am reading a book because I am bored.

  • Kui sa loed, siis ma ootan. If you are reading, then I will wait.

Word Order in Formal and Informal Speech

In formal contexts, Estonian tends to adhere more strictly to the standard Subject-Verb-Object order for clarity. In informal speech, variations are common, and the word order may shift to reflect conversational tone, emphasis, or regional influences.

Examples:

  • Formal: Me kirjutame täna raporti. We are writing the report today.

  • Informal: Täna me kirjutame raporti. Today we are writing the report.

Asking Questions in Estonian

Forming questions in Estonian is a fundamental skill for engaging in conversation and seeking information. Estonian questions can be broadly divided into yes/no questions and information questions. The language has a straightforward structure for forming both types, relying on word order, question particles, and specific question words.

Yes/No Questions in Estonian

Yes/no questions are formed by using kas, a question particle, or by using an interrogative intonation without changing the word order. The structure of yes/no questions is simple and mirrors the structure of declarative sentences.

Using "Kas"

The particle kas is placed at the beginning of the sentence to indicate a yes/no question.

Examples:

  • Kas sa räägid eesti keelt? Do you speak Estonian?

  • Kas ta tuleb homme? Will he/she come tomorrow?

  • Kas te lähete kinno? Are you (plural) going to the cinema?

  • Kas nad töötavad siin? Do they work here?

Without "Kas" (Intonation)

In informal contexts, yes/no questions can be formed without kas by relying on intonation. The word order remains the same as in a declarative sentence, but the tone rises at the end of the sentence.

Examples:

  • Sa räägid eesti keelt? Do you speak Estonian?

  • Ta tuleb homme? Is he/she coming tomorrow?

  • Te lähete kinno? Are you going to the cinema?

Information Questions in Estonian

Information questions are formed using question words. These words replace the element of the sentence you are asking about. The word order typically remains subject-verb-object, though variations are possible.

Common Question Words
  1. Mis (what): Used to ask about objects or actions.

    • Mis see on? What is this?

    • Mis sa teed? What are you doing?

  2. Kes (who): Used to ask about people.

    • Kes sa oled? Who are you?

    • Kes tuleb koos sinuga? Who is coming with you?

  3. Kus (where): Used to ask about location.

    • Kus sa elad? Where do you live?

    • Kus nad töötavad? Where do they work?

  4. Millal (when): Used to ask about time.

    • Millal sa tuled? When are you coming?

    • Millal te alustate? When are you starting?

  5. Miks (why): Used to ask for reasons.

    • Miks ta ei räägi? Why isn’t he/she speaking?

    • Miks te hilinesite? Why were you late?

  6. Kuidas (how): Used to ask about the manner or method.

    • Kuidas sa saad aru? How do you understand?

    • Kuidas nad jõuavad siia? How are they getting here?

  7. Kui palju (how much / how many): Used to ask about quantity.

    • Kui palju see maksab? How much does this cost?

    • Kui palju inimesi tuleb? How many people are coming?

  8. Kelle (whose): Used to ask about possession.

    • Kelle raamat see on? Whose book is this?

    • Kelle auto seisab väljas? Whose car is parked outside?

Examples of Information Questions with Personal Pronouns

Using the verb minema (to go):

  • Mina: Kuhu mina lähen? Where am I going?

  • Sina: Kuhu sina lähed? Where are you going?

  • Tema: Kuhu tema läheb? Where is he/she going?

  • Meie: Kuhu meie läheme? Where are we going?

  • Teie: Kuhu teie lähete? Where are you going?

  • Nemad: Kuhu nemad lähevad? Where are they going?

Questions with Negation

Negated questions are formed by adding the particle ei before the verb. They can be yes/no questions or information questions.

Examples:

  • Kas sa ei tule? Aren’t you coming?

  • Miks ta ei räägi? Why isn’t he/she speaking?

  • Kas nad ei tea? Don’t they know?

Question Word Order

In Estonian, the basic word order for questions is as follows:

  1. Yes/No Questions: Kas + subject + verb + object
    Example: Kas sa loed raamatut? Are you reading a book?

  2. Information Questions: Question word + subject + verb + object
    Example: Kus sa loed raamatut? Where are you reading a book?

However, word order can vary for emphasis:

  • Raamatut sa loed kus? The book you are reading, where?

Embedded Questions

Embedded questions are questions placed within a larger sentence. The question word remains, but the sentence structure becomes declarative.

Examples:

  • Ma ei tea, kus ta on. I don’t know where he/she is.

  • Ütle mulle, mis see maksab. Tell me what this costs.

  • Me küsime, miks te hilinesite. We are asking why you were late.

Polite and Formal Questions

In formal or polite speech, kas is more commonly used. Adding palun (please) can make the question even more polite.

Examples:

  • Kas te saate mind aidata, palun? Can you help me, please?

  • Kas te räägite inglise keelt? Do you speak English?

Questions About Quantity and Frequency

Estonian has specific ways to ask about quantity and frequency. These questions often use words like kui palju (how much / how many) or kui tihti (how often).

Examples:

  • Kui palju see maksab? How much does this cost?

  • Kui tihti sa käid jooksmas? How often do you go running?

Examples of Questions Across All Tenses

Using the verb tegema (to do) as an example:

  • Present Tense: Mida sa teed? What are you doing?

  • Past Tense: Mida sa tegid? What did you do?

  • Future Tense: Mida sa teed homme? What will you do tomorrow?

Relative Clauses in Estonian

Relative clauses in Estonian are used to provide additional information about a noun without starting a new sentence. They function similarly to relative clauses in English, often introduced by relative pronouns like kes (who), mis (what), or other related terms.

A relative clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or pronoun in the main clause. It provides more information about the noun, specifying which person or thing is being referred to or describing it in more detail.

Examples:

  • Raamat, mis on laual, kuulub mulle. The book, which is on the table, belongs to me.

  • Inimene, kes sulle helistas, oli õpetaja. The person who called you was the teacher.

Structure of Relative Clauses in Estonian

In Estonian, relative clauses are introduced by a relative pronoun, and the word order within the relative clause follows the same rules as in a normal declarative sentence.

Basic structure:

  1. Noun or pronoun in the main clause.

  2. Relative pronoun introducing the relative clause.

  3. A subject-verb-object or subject-verb structure in the relative clause.

Example:

  • Auto, mille ostsin, on uus. The car that I bought is new.

    • Auto (The car) is the noun in the main clause.

    • mille (that/which) is the relative pronoun introducing the clause.

    • ostsin (I bought) is the verb in the relative clause.

Relative Pronouns in Estonian

Relative pronouns are used to connect the main clause to the relative clause. Their form often depends on the grammatical case required by their function in the sentence.

Kes (Who)

Used for people, kes functions as the subject of the relative clause.

Examples:

  • Naine, kes seisab seal, on arst. The woman who is standing there is a doctor.

  • Mees, kes mulle rääkis, oli väga sõbralik. The man who spoke to me was very friendly.

Mis (What/Which/That)

Used for things or abstract concepts, mis is the most commonly used relative pronoun.

Examples:

  • Maja, mis on vana, müüakse. The house that is old is being sold.

  • Raamat, mis sulle meeldib, on siin. The book that you like is here.

Mille/Mida/Millega/Millest (Derived from Mis)

For objects or things requiring different grammatical cases:

  • Mille (whose/that/which, genitive):
    See on projekt, mille eesmärk on aidata lapsi. This is the project whose goal is to help children.

  • Mida (what/that, partitive):
    Toit, mida ma sõin, oli maitsev. The food that I ate was delicious.

  • Millega (with which, comitative):
    Vahend, millega ma töötan, on uus. The tool with which I am working is new.

  • Millest (from which, elative):
    Lugu, millest ma rääkisin, on tõsi. The story that I talked about is true.

Kus (Where)

Refers to places, similar to "where" in English.

Examples:

  • Kohvik, kus me kohtusime, on suletud. The café where we met is closed.

  • Linn, kus ta elab, on väga ilus. The city where he/she lives is very beautiful.

Milleks (For what/For which)

Indicates purpose or intent.

Examples:

  • See on võimalus, milleks tuleb valmis olla. This is an opportunity for which one must be prepared.

Word Order in Relative Clauses

The word order in Estonian relative clauses follows the standard subject-verb-object pattern. However, the position of the relative pronoun depends on its role in the sentence.

Examples:

  • Töö, mida ma teen, on huvitav. The work that I do is interesting.

    • Here, mida (that) acts as the object.

  • Inimene, kes räägib, on direktor. The person who is speaking is the director.

    • Here, kes (who) acts as the subject.

Omission of Relative Pronouns

In some informal contexts, relative pronouns like mis can be omitted when their meaning is clear from context. However, this is less common in formal Estonian.

Examples:

  • Formal: Raamat, mis on laual, kuulub mulle. The book, which is on the table, belongs to me.

  • Informal: Raamat, on laual, kuulub mulle. The book on the table belongs to me.

Agreement and Case Usage in Relative Clauses

The relative pronoun must agree in case with its function in the relative clause. For example:

  • Auto, mida ma ostsin, on punane. The car that I bought is red. (Here, mida is in the partitive case because the verb ostsin requires it.)

  • Töö, mille eesmärk on selge, tuleb lõpule viia. The work whose goal is clear must be completed. (Here, mille is in the genitive case because it indicates possession.)

Examples of Relative Clauses in Context

Below are some examples of relative clauses with detailed explanations:

  1. Inimene, kes laulab, on kuulus.
    The person who is singing is famous.

    • kes refers to the subject of the relative clause (inimene).

  2. Raamat, mida ma eile lugesin, oli väga huvitav.
    The book that I read yesterday was very interesting.

    • mida is in the partitive case, as required by the verb lugesin (I read).

  3. Maja, kus nad elavad, on vana.
    The house where they live is old.

    • kus refers to the location (maja).

  4. Projekt, mille kallal me töötame, on oluline.
    The project that we are working on is important.

    • mille is in the genitive case to indicate the object of töötame (we are working).

  5. Koht, millest ma unistasin, on olemas.
    The place that I dreamed of exists.

    • millest is in the elative case, required by the verb unistasin (I dreamed).

Common Mistakes with Relative Clauses

  • Using the wrong relative pronoun:
    Make sure the relative pronoun matches the case and role in the sentence. For example:

    • Incorrect: See on raamat, kes mulle meeldib.
      Correct: See on raamat, mis mulle meeldib.
      (This is the book that I like.)

  • Overusing pronouns in informal contexts:
    Avoid doubling the subject or object. For example:

    • Incorrect: Raamat, mis see on laual, kuulub mulle.
      Correct: Raamat, mis on laual, kuulub mulle.

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