blog.basics

Cardinal numbers in Estonian are used for counting and are quite straightforward. Here are the basic numbers from one to ten: 1: üks 2: kaks 3: kolm 4: neli 5: viis 6: kuus 7: seitse 8: kaheksa 9: üheksa 10: kümme For numbers 11 throu...

Conjugation in the Present Tense Most Estonian verbs follow a regular pattern when conjugated in the present tense. The verb stem is combined with specific endings to match the subject pronoun. Conjugation Pattern: 1. Identify the verb stem (usua...

Plural form When forming the plural in the nominative case, nouns take specific endings that depend on their stem. The most common plural endings are d and id. The formation of the nominative plural in Estonian can involve: 1. Adding th...

The Estonian Alphabet The Estonian alphabet consists of 27 letters and includes a few unique characters that distinguish it from other alphabets. Here is a brief guide to pronouncing some of the unique letters in the Estonian alphabet: Š (prono...

The Verb Olema The verb olema, meaning "to be," is one of the most essential verbs in Estonian. It plays a crucial role in constructing sentences and expressing states of being, existence, and identity. Olema in the Present Tense Pronou...

Personal Pronouns Estonian personal pronouns are used to refer to people or things and change form depending on the case. The nominative (subject) forms are: Mina (I) Sina (You, singular informal) Tema (He/She/It) Meie (We) ...

Ordinal numerals in the Estonian language are used to denote the position or rank of something in a sequential order. The formation of these numerals involves a combination of base numbers and specific suffixes. Here is a brief overview of how ordinal nume...

The dainfinitive in Estonian Estonian has two main infinitive forms: the mainfinitive and the dainfinitive. The mainfinitive (ending in "ma") is typically the base form of the verb found in dictionaries. The dainfinitive (ending i...

The Verb "Tunduma" in Estonian Language In the Estonian language, the verb "tunduma" plays a significant role in expressing sensations, feelings, and perceptions. It is a versatile verb that can be translated to English as "to seem," "to feel," or "to...

The simple past tense in Estonian expresses an event in the past, not connected to the present or any other moment in the past. Formation of Simple Past Tense To form the simple past tense in Estonian, you generally need to know the stem of the verb ...

The perfect tense in the Estonian language, known as "täisminevik," is used to describe actions that have been completed at some point in the past but are relevant to the present. It is formed using the present tense of the auxiliary verb "olema" (to be) a...

Estonian employs both prepositions and postpositions to indicate relationships between words in a sentence. These elements are crucial for expressing spatial, temporal, and other relational concepts. Prepositions Prepositions in Estonian typically pre...

Estonian, like many languages, has a variety of verbs that can be used to express abilities, possibilities, and capacities. Four such verbs are "oskama," "suutma," "võima," and "saama." While they may seem similar at first glance, each of these verbs has a...

The imperative mood is used to give commands, make requests, or offer suggestions. It is a crucial aspect of the language, especially in everyday communication. The formation of the imperative mood in Estonian varies depending on the verb type and the pers...

Noun cases play a crucial role in indicating the grammatical function of a word within a sentence. Two of the most commonly used cases are the Omastav (genitive) and Osastav (partitive) cases. Understanding these cases is essential for mastering Estonian g...

The sisseütlev case, also known as the illative case, is used to indicate movement into or towards something. It answers the question "kuhu?" (where to?). The typical ending for the illative case is "sse" for singular nouns and "desse" for plural nouns. ...

Alalütlev (Adessive Case) The adessive case is used primarily to indicate a stationary location or a state. It answers the questions kelle juures? (at whose place?), kelle peal? (on top of whom?), and mis peal? (on what?). It is also used to ind...

In the Estonian language, adjectives can be compared using three degrees of comparison: the positive, the comparative, and the superlative. These degrees help to describe the intensity or extent of the qualities expressed by the adjectives. Positive D...

The saav case in Estonian is used primarily to indicate the attainment of a certain state or condition. It answers the question milliseks? (into what?) and often corresponds to the English prepositions "into" or "to become." It is particularly useful in ...

The subjunctive mood in the Estonian language, known as "kõneviis" or "tingiv kõneviis," is used to express wishes, hypotheticals, demands, or actions that are contingent upon certain conditions. Unlike the indicative mood, which states facts, the subjunct...

Declension of Personal Pronouns in Estonian Language Estonian, a FinnoUgric language, features a rich system of declension for personal pronouns. These pronouns change form based on their grammatical case, which indicates their function in a sentence...

The Rajav case in Estonian is a local case used to indicate motion along or beside something. It answers questions such as mööda mida? (along what?) and is comparable to expressions like "along" or "alongside" in English. This case is particularly useful...

The kaasaütlev case, also known as the comitative case, is one of the fourteen grammatical cases in the Estonian language. It is used to indicate companionship or association, often translated to English as "with" or "together with." The comitative case is...

Postpositions of Place 1. Juurde (to, towards) Example: "Lähen sõbra juurde." (I am going to my friend's place.) 2. Peale (onto, on) Example: "Pane raamat laua peale." (Put the book on the table.) 3. Alla (under, below) Ex...

The ilmaütlev case, also known as the abessive case, is one of the grammatical cases in the Estonian language. It is used to indicate the absence of something or someone. The suffix "ta" is typically added to the noun to form the abessive case. Forma...

The pluperfect tense in the Estonian language, known as "enneminevik," is used to describe actions that were completed before another action in the past. It is equivalent to the English past perfect tense. The formation of the pluperfect tense in Estonian ...

The Essive case ("Olev") in Estonian indicates a temporary state, role, or condition that something or someone assumes. It answers the question millena? (as what?) and is used to describe how something is regarded or what it temporarily becomes. Fo...