Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have

Standard Estonian Grammar - How to Use "Have"

Hi Standard Estonian learners! 😊

In this lesson, we will focus on the usage of "have" in Standard Estonian grammar. It is an essential part of the language that is widely used in daily conversations, so it's essential to master its use to sound fluent and natural.

Let's start with the basics!

Understanding "Have" in Standard Estonian

"Have" in Standard Estonian is usually translated as "omama". It is mostly used to indicate possession or the existence of something.

Here are some examples:

Standard Estonian	Pronunciation	English
Mul on pikk juuksepahmakas.	Mool on pikk juuksepahmakas	I have long eyebrows.
Tal on suur auto.	Taal on suur auto	He has a big car.
Neil on palju raha.	Neil on palju raha	They have a lot of money.

As you can see, "on" is used as the main verb to indicate that the subject has something, and "omama" is used with "on" to express the possession.

Notice that "on" changes its form depending on the subject. For "tulevik", the form is "saab olema". For example:

Standard Estonian	Pronunciation	English
Sa saad olema õnnelik.	Sa saad olema oonnehlik	You will be happy.

Another common usage of "omama" is to express the feeling of having or experiencing something. For example:

Standard Estonian	Pronunciation	English
Mul on külm.	Mool on koolm	I feel cold.
Tal on hirm.	Taal on heerm	He feels scared.

Now that we've reviewed the basics let's move on to the more complex usage of "have".

Advanced Usage of "Have" in Standard Estonian

In Standard Estonian, "have" can also be combined with some verbs to form phrasal verbs that express different meanings. Here are some examples:

• "Peale jääma" - to be victorious or come out on top
• "Allaandma" - to surrender, give up
• "Kõrvale panema" - to set aside

Here is an example dialogue to see how these verbs are used:

• Person 1: Mul oli täna raske eksam, aga ma jääsin peale. (I had a difficult exam today, but I came out on top.)
• Person 2: Teeme siis tähistamiseks midagi erilist? (Shall we do something special to celebrate?)

In this dialogue, "jääma" is used with "peale" to mean "to be victorious" while "omama" is used more conventionally to indicate possession. Another example:

• Person 1: Ma arvan, et ma pean allaandma. (I think I have to give up.)
• Person 2: Ära anna alla, saad hakkama! (Don't give up, you can do it!)

In this case, "andma" is used with "alla" to mean "surrender".

Finally, "panema" can be combined with "kõrvale" to mean "set aside". For example:

• Person 1: Tuleb õppida, aga ma panin raamatu kõrvale, sest ma olen väsinud. (I have to study, but I set the book aside because I'm tired.)
• Person 2: Õige, puhka ja lõõgastu, siis saad jätkata hiljem. (Right, rest and relax, and then you can continue later.)

It's important to note that the meanings of phrasal verbs are not always transparent, so it's crucial to learn them as individual units.

Conclusion

And that's a wrap! We've covered the basics and some advanced usage of "have" in Standard Estonian. Remember, to master the language, you have to practice consistently, and to maintain fluency, you have to keep learning and refreshing your skills.

To take your learning to the next level, we encourage you to interact with native speakers on Polyglot Club and ask them any questions! You can also check out more Grammar lessons on the platform.

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