Module 1Grammar reviewPremium
Estonian in everyday situations
Reviews practise both sides: wherever Lukas and Lena would say something differently, you do it once as each.
Olen, oled, on
| Person | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| I — be | ||
| I — be | ||
| you, familiar singular — be | ||
| you, familiar singular — be | ||
| he/she — be | ||
| he/she — be | ||
| we — be | ||
| we — be | ||
| you, plural/polite — be | ||
| you, plural/polite — be | ||
| they — be | ||
| they — be | ||
Estonian has no articles corresponding to a or the and no grammatical gender. A pronoun stands for a person: , , , , , . means he or she; learner gender does not change verbs or adjectives.
The present tense describes now or a usual activity. means be: . Use familiar with Liis and polite with an unfamiliar adult. A subject is who the verb describes. starts a yes/no question:
Mul on, mul ei ole
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| I have a key. | ||
| I have a key. | ||
| You have a key. | ||
| You have a key. | ||
| He/she has a cat. | ||
| He/she has a cat. | ||
| We have a cat. | ||
| We have a cat. | ||
| You have a key, polite/plural. | ||
| You have a key, polite/plural. | ||
| I am not bad. | ||
| I am not bad. | ||
Estonian possession uses a possessor form plus : I have, you have, he/she has, we have, you have, they have. These are short forms of .
Negation puts before an unchanged verb stem: , , , , , . means I do not have a key; learn whole here before the noun cases are practised. Hunger is — literally my stomach is empty.
Kohvi või teed
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee, please. | ||
| Coffee, please. | ||
| Tea, please. | ||
| Tea, please. | ||
| A little cake. | ||
| A little cake. | ||
| Coffee or tea? | ||
| Coffee or tea? | ||
| Coffee and cake. | ||
| Coffee and cake. | ||
| I like cake. | ||
| I like cake. | ||
A noun names a person, thing or idea. Its nominative is the basic dictionary form: . The partitive is used for an indefinite amount or what you order: . Learn and as useful café phrases.
links alternatives and links a list. means I like: . asks whether the food tastes good. These are natural phrases even though English uses a different subject.
Elan, elad, elab
| Person | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| I — live | ||
| I — live | ||
| you, familiar singular — live | ||
| you, familiar singular — live | ||
| he/she — live | ||
| he/she — live | ||
| we — live | ||
| we — live | ||
| you, plural/polite — live | ||
| you, plural/polite — live | ||
| they — live | ||
| they — live | ||
The dictionary verb form often ends in -ma. Remove -ma from and add -n, -d, -b, -me, -te, -vad: . These are all six persons. follows .
Estonian also has a infinitive, sometimes ending in -ta or -a. After use this form: . Learn the pair . Present is . After , use without a person ending.
Minu, sinu, tema
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| This is my key. | ||
| This is my key. | ||
| This is your key, familiar. | ||
| This is your key, familiar. | ||
| This is his/her key. | ||
| This is his/her key. | ||
| This is our key. | ||
| This is our key. | ||
| This is your key, polite/plural. | ||
| This is your key, polite/plural. | ||
| Where does Muri live? | ||
| Where does Muri live? | ||
A possessive expression shows ownership: . These forms do not change for the owner’s gender. Short and are common for and .
asks where. Useful location chunks are . A case is a noun form showing its role. is nominative, is genitive, and is partitive. The genitive also stands before a following noun: , . Full noun patterns start in module 2.
Practice 1/4 · Finding words
Notice the useful pattern
Tap the form practised in this unit.
As Lukas
. .
I am Lukas. You are here, polite/plural.
As Lena
. .
I am Lena. You are here, polite/plural.
As Lukas
. .
I am Lukas. You have a key, polite/plural.
As Lena
. .
I am Lena. You have a key, polite/plural.
As Lukas
. .
I am Lukas. Coffee and cake.
As Lena
. .
I am Lena. Coffee and cake.
As Lukas
. .
I am Lukas. You live here, polite/plural.
As Lena
. .
I am Lena. You live here, polite/plural.
Practice 2/4 · The right form
Mixed person forms 1
Choose the right word for the gap.
Ma siin.
I am here.
Sa siin.
You (familiar singular) are here.
Ta siin.
He/she is here.
Me siin.
We are here.
Te siin.
You (polite/plural) are here.
Ma siin.
I live here.
Mixed person forms 2
Choose the right word for the gap.
Sa siin.
You (familiar singular) live here.
Ta siin.
He/she lives here.
Me siin.
We live here.
Te siin.
You (polite/plural) live here.
Nad siin.
They live here.
Practice 3/4 · Fill the gaps
Recall the person forms 1
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Ma siin.
I am here.
Sa siin.
You (familiar singular) are here.
Ta siin.
He/she is here.
Me siin.
We are here.
Te siin.
You (polite/plural) are here.
Ma siin.
I live here.
Recall the person forms 2
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Sa siin.
You (familiar singular) live here.
Ta siin.
He/she lives here.
Me siin.
We live here.
Te siin.
You (polite/plural) live here.
Nad siin.
They live here.
Practice 4/4 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
As Lukas
I am Lukas/Lena. You are here, polite/plural.
You say:
Use the meaning and Estonian pattern explained in this unit.
As Lena
I am Lukas/Lena. You are here, polite/plural.
You say:
Use the meaning and Estonian pattern explained in this unit.
As Lukas
I am Lukas/Lena. You have a key, polite/plural.
You say:
Use the meaning and Estonian pattern explained in this unit.
As Lena
I am Lukas/Lena. You have a key, polite/plural.
You say:
Use the meaning and Estonian pattern explained in this unit.
As Lukas
I am Lukas/Lena. Coffee and cake.
You say:
Use the meaning and Estonian pattern explained in this unit.
As Lena
I am Lukas/Lena. Coffee and cake.
You say:
Use the meaning and Estonian pattern explained in this unit.
As Lukas
I am Lukas/Lena. You live here, polite/plural.
You say:
Use the meaning and Estonian pattern explained in this unit.
As Lena
I am Lukas/Lena. You live here, polite/plural.
You say:
Use the meaning and Estonian pattern explained in this unit.
Unit complete
