An article introduces a noun in languages such as English; Estonian does not use articles. Grammatical gender groups nouns and related forms in some languages; Estonian has no such groups. An adjective describes a noun, such as . Singular means one person; plural means more than one.
Identity, pronouns and questions
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:
| 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 | ||
Mina olen naaber.I am a neighbour.
Sina oled Liis.You are Liis.
Tema on Jaan.He is Jaan.
Meie oleme siin.We are here.
Teie olete siin.You are here, polite/plural.
Nemad on siin.They are here.
Mina olen Lukas. Teie olete siin.I am Lukas. You are here, polite/plural.
Mina olen Lena. Teie olete siin.I am Lena. You are here, polite/plural.
Mina olen Lukas. Nemad on siin.I am Lukas. They are here.
Mina olen Lena. Nemad on siin.I am Lena. They are here.
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Notice the useful pattern
Tap the form practised in this unit.
.
I am a neighbour.
.
You are Liis.
.
He is Jaan.
.
We are here.
Practice 2/6 · The right form
Choose the form 1
Choose the right word for the gap.
Mina naaber.
I am a neighbour.
Sina Liis.
You are Liis.
Tema Jaan.
He is Jaan.
Meie siin.
We are here.
Teie siin.
You are here, polite/plural.
Nemad siin.
They are here.
Mina olen Lukas. Teie siin.
I am Lukas. You are here, polite/plural.
Mina olen Lena. Teie siin.
I am Lena. You are here, polite/plural.
Choose the form 2
Choose the right word for the gap.
Mina olen Lukas. Nemad siin.
I am Lukas. They are here.
Mina olen Lena. Nemad siin.
I am Lena. They are here.
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.
Nad siin.
They are here.
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
Use the form 1
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Mina naaber.
I am a neighbour.
Sina Liis.
You are Liis.
Tema Jaan.
He is Jaan.
Meie siin.
We are here.
Teie siin.
You are here, polite/plural.
Nemad siin.
They are here.
Mina olen Lukas. Teie siin.
I am Lukas. You are here, polite/plural.
Mina olen Lena. Teie siin.
I am Lena. You are here, polite/plural.
Use the form 2
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Mina olen Lukas. Nemad siin.
I am Lukas. They are here.
Mina olen Lena. Nemad siin.
I am Lena. They are here.
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.
Nad siin.
They are here.
Practice 4/6 · Building sentences
Build a sentence
Put the words in order.
I am a neighbour.
You are Liis.
He is Jaan.
We are here.
You are here, polite/plural.
They are here.
Practice 5/6 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
I am a neighbour.
You say:
Use the meaning and Estonian pattern explained in this unit.
I am a neighbour.
You say:
Use the meaning and Estonian pattern explained in this unit.
You are Liis.
You say:
Use the meaning and Estonian pattern explained in this unit.
You are Liis.
You say:
Use the meaning and Estonian pattern explained in this unit.
He is Jaan.
You say:
Use the meaning and Estonian pattern explained in this unit.
He is Jaan.
You say:
Use the meaning and Estonian pattern explained in this unit.
We are here.
You say:
Use the meaning and Estonian pattern explained in this unit.
We are here.
You say:
Use the meaning and Estonian pattern explained in this unit.
Practice 6/6 · Matching
Connect messages and meanings
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
