Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/Cases-and-pronouns

Standard Estonian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Introduction to Estonian grammar → Cases and pronouns

Introduction

Welcome to the lesson on cases and pronouns in Standard Estonian! In this lesson, we will explore the fascinating world of Estonian grammar and learn how to use cases with pronouns. Understanding cases is essential for mastering the Estonian language, as it plays a crucial role in sentence structure and meaning. So, let's dive in and discover the beauty of Estonian grammar!

Cases in Estonian

Estonian is an inflected language, which means that nouns, adjectives, and pronouns change their forms based on their grammatical role in the sentence. One of the most distinctive features of Estonian grammar is its extensive case system. Cases indicate the grammatical function of a word in a sentence, such as the subject, object, or possessive form.

In Estonian, there are 14 grammatical cases, each serving a specific purpose. Let's explore some of the most commonly used cases and their functions:

Nominative Case

The nominative case is used for the subject of a sentence, indicating the doer of an action. Nouns and pronouns in the nominative case generally remain unchanged. For example:

Standard Estonian	Pronunciation	English
Tüdruk mängib.	Tydruk mangib.	The girl is playing.
Ta on õnnelik.	Ta on onnelik.	She is happy.
Poiss jookseb kiiresti.	Poiss yookseb kiiresti.	The boy is running fast.

Genitive Case

The genitive case is used to indicate possession or the relationship between two nouns. In Estonian, the genitive case is formed by adding the suffix "-i" or "-de" to the noun. For example:

Standard Estonian	Pronunciation	English
Raamatu autor on tuntud.	Raamatu autor on tuntud.	The author of the book is well-known.
Ema maja on suur.	Ema maja on suur.	Mother's house is big.
Kassi saba on pikk.	Kassi saba on pikk.	The cat's tail is long.

Accusative Case

The accusative case is used for the direct object of a verb, indicating the receiver of an action. In Estonian, the accusative case is generally marked by word order rather than inflection. However, certain pronouns and nouns have distinct accusative forms. Let's take a look at some examples:

Standard Estonian	Pronunciation	English
Ma näen sind.	Ma naen sind.	I see you.
Ta armastab Eestit.	Ta armastab Eestit.	He loves Estonia.
Laps sööb õuna.	Laps soob ouna.	The child is eating an apple.

Partitive Case

The partitive case is used for the indirect object of a verb and to express indefinite quantities. It is also used after certain prepositions. In Estonian, the partitive case is formed by adding the suffix "-t" or "-d" to the noun. Here are some examples:

Standard Estonian	Pronunciation	English
Ma ostan raamatut.	Ma ostan raamatut.	I am buying a book.
Ta joob kohvi.	Ta joob kohvi.	She is drinking coffee.
Mul on natuke raha.	Mul on natuke raha.	I have some money.

These are just a few examples of the cases used in Estonian. The language has a rich variety of cases that allow for precise expression and add depth to the language.

Pronouns in Estonian

Pronouns play an essential role in any language, and Estonian is no exception. Pronouns are used to replace nouns and avoid repetition in sentences. Let's explore the pronouns in Estonian and how they interact with cases:

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns in Estonian are used to refer to people or things. They change their forms based on the cases. Here are the personal pronouns in Estonian:

Standard Estonian	Pronunciation	English
mina	mina	I
sina	sina	you
tema	tema	he/she/it
meie	meie	we
teie	teie	you (plural)
nemad	nemad	they

These pronouns change their forms based on the case they are in. For example, in the accusative case, "mina" becomes "mind," and "tema" becomes "teda."

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns are used to point out specific objects or people. In Estonian, the demonstrative pronouns are "see" (this) and "too" (that). They also change their forms based on the cases. Here are the demonstrative pronouns in Estonian:

Standard Estonian	Pronunciation	English
see	see	this
too	too	that

Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions. In Estonian, the interrogative pronouns are "kes" (who), "mis" (what), "millal" (when), "kus" (where), "kuidas" (how), and "miks" (why). Here are some examples of interrogative pronouns in Estonian:

Standard Estonian	Pronunciation	English
Kes on see?	Kes on see?	Who is this?
Mis see on?	Mis see on?	What is this?
Millal sa tuled?	Millal sa tuled?	When are you coming?

These are just a few examples of pronouns in Estonian. Pronouns are an important part of the language and are used extensively in everyday communication.

Exercises

Now that we have learned about cases and pronouns in Estonian, it's time to put our knowledge into practice. Here are some exercises for you to test your understanding:

1. Translate the following sentences into Estonian: a) She is reading a book. b) I see the cat. c) Who is that? d) We have a car.

2. Change the following nouns to the genitive case: a) poiss (boy) b) tüdruk (girl) c) koer (dog) d) maja (house)

3. Fill in the blanks with the correct pronouns: a) ___________ armastab Eestit. b) ___________ näen sind homme. c) ___________ on suur maja. d) ___________ ostan õuna.

Solutions

1. Translate the following sentences into Estonian: a) Ta loeb raamatut. b) Ma näen kassi. c) Kes see on? d) Meil on auto.

2. Change the following nouns to the genitive case: a) poisi b) tüdruku c) koera d) maja

3. Fill in the blanks with the correct pronouns: a) Ta armastab Eestit. b) Ma näen sind homme. c) See on suur maja. d) Ma ostan õuna.

Congratulations! You have successfully completed the exercises. Keep practicing and exploring the beautiful world of Estonian grammar!

Table of Contents - Standard Estonian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Introduction to Estonian

• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Common Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

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Nouns and Pronouns

• Noun Cases
• Personal Pronouns

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

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Daily Activities

• Daily Routine
• Hobbies and Free Time

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Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Declension
• Adverbs

  ---

Food and Dining

• Food and Drinks
• Eating Out

  ---

Estonian Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Traditional Music and Dance

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Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Phrases

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Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Prepositions
• Conjunctions

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At Home and Work

• Home and Furniture
• Work and Professions

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Estonian History

• Historical Overview
• Estonian Language History

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Negation and Questions

• Negation
• Question Words and Formation

Other Lessons

• Nouns and possessive suffixes
• Nouns
• Adjectives
• Gender
• Question words and interrogative sentences
• Articles
• Adjectives and comparison
• Verb to be and personal pronouns
• Future Tense
• How to Use Be