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<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Standard-estonian|Standard Estonian]]  → [[Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Introduction to Estonian grammar → Cases and pronouns</div>


<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Standard-estonian|Standard Estonian]]  → [[Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar|Grammar]] → Cases and pronouns</div>
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== Introduction ==


As a Standard Estonian language teacher for the past 20 years, I have noticed that one of the most challenging aspects of the Estonian language for beginners is the use of cases and pronouns. However, understanding these grammar concepts is essential to effectively communicate in Estonian. In this lesson, we will explore the Estonian cases and how to use them with pronouns. By the end of this lesson, you will have a better understanding of these grammar concepts and be able to use them in your daily conversations.
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 ==


<span link>After mastering this lesson, these related pages might interest you: [[Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/Adjectives-and-comparison|Adjectives and comparison]] & [[Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/Future-Tense|Future Tense]].</span>
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.
== Estonian Cases ==


In Estonian, cases are used to indicate the grammatical function of a noun or pronoun in a sentence. There are 14 cases in the Estonian language, each with its own suffix. This may seem overwhelming, but don't worry, we will start by introducing you to the five most commonly used cases.
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 ===
=== Nominative Case ===


The nominative case is used for the subject of a sentence. It answers the question "who/what".
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:
 
For example:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| Isa || EE-sah || Father
| 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.
|}
|}
In the above example, "Isa" is in the nominative case, because it is the subject of the sentence.


=== Genitive Case ===
=== Genitive Case ===


The genitive case indicates possession, and is used to answer the question "whose".
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:
 
For example:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| Isa maja || EE-sah MAH-yah || Father's house
| 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.
|}
|}


In the above example, "isa" (father) is in the genitive case because it indicates possession.
=== Accusative Case ===


=== Partitive 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:
 
The partitive case indicates a part of a whole, and is used to answer the question "what/whom". It is also used for indefinite objects of a verb.
 
For example:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| Ma armastan piima || Mah ARM-ah-stahn PEEL-mah || I love milk
| 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.
|}
|}


In the above example, "piim" (milk) is in the partitive case because it indicates an indefinite object.
=== Partitive Case ===
 
=== Inessive Case ===
 
The inessive case is used to indicate location or position inside something, and is used to answer the question "where".


For example:
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:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| Lapsed on majas || LAHP-sed ohn MAH-yahs || The children are in the house.
| 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.
|}
|}


In the above example, "maj" (house) is in the inessive case because it indicates the position of the children.
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 ==


=== Elative Case ===
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:


The elative case indicates a movement from inside something, and is used to answer the question "from where/what".
=== Personal Pronouns ===


For example:
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:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| Ta tuli majast || Tah TOO-lee MAH-yahst || He came from the house.
| mina || mina || I
|-
| sina || sina || you
|-
| tema || tema || he/she/it
|-
| meie || meie || we
|-
| teie || teie || you (plural)
|-
| nemad || nemad || they
|}
|}


In the above example, "maj" (house) is in the elative case as it indicates the origin of the person who came.
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."


These are only five of the 14 cases in Estonian, but mastering them is an important step towards fluency in the language.
=== Demonstrative Pronouns ===


== 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:
 
Pronouns are words that replace nouns or other pronouns in a sentence. In Estonian, pronouns also have cases, but the declension is more straightforward than for nouns.  
 
Here are the personal pronouns in the nominative case:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| Mina || MEE-nah || I
| see || see || this
|-
| Sina || SEE-nah || You (singular, informal)
|-
| Tema || TAH-mah || He/She/It
|-
| Meie || MAY-eh || We
|-
| Teie || TAY-eh || You (plural, formal or informal)
|-
|-
| Nemad || NEH-mahd || They
| too || too || that
|}
|}


Here are the same personal pronouns with the accusative and genitive cases:
=== 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:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| Mina (accusative) || MEE-nah || Me (direct object), or to/at me (indirect object)
| Kes on see? || Kes on see? || Who is this?
|-
| Mina (genitive) || MEE-nah || My
|-
| Sina (accusative) || SEE-nah || You (singular, informal), or to/at you (indirect object)
|-
| Sina (genitive) || SEE-nah || Your
|-
|-
| Tema (accusative) || TAH-mah || Him/Her/It (direct object), or to/at him/her/it (indirect object)
| Mis see on? || Mis see on? || What is this?
|-
|-
| Tema (genitive) || TAH-mah || His/Her/Its
| Millal sa tuled? || Millal sa tuled? || When are you coming?
|-
| Meie (accusative) || MAY-eh || Us (direct object), or to/at us (indirect object)
|-
| Meie (genitive) || MAY-eh || Our
|-
| Teie (accusative) || TAY-eh || You (plural, formal or informal), or to/at you (indirect object)
|-
| Teie (genitive) || TAY-eh || Your
|-
| Nemad (accusative) || NEH-mahd || Them (direct object), or to/at them (indirect object)
|-
| Nemad (genitive) || NEH-mahd || Their
|}
|}


Once you master the cases and the pronouns, you can start building sentences and having basic conversations in Estonian. Practice is key to success, so make sure you try using the cases and pronouns as much as you can in your daily life.
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.


I hope you enjoyed this lesson and found it valuable in your journey to becoming proficient in Estonian!
Congratulations! You have successfully completed the exercises. Keep practicing and exploring the beautiful world of Estonian grammar!


{{#seo:
{{#seo:
|title=Standard Estonian Grammar - Introduction to Estonian grammar - Cases and Pronouns
|title=Standard Estonian Grammar → Introduction to Estonian grammar → Cases and pronouns
|keywords=Estonian grammar, cases, pronouns, grammar in Estonian, Estonian language, learn Estonian
|keywords=Estonian grammar, Estonian cases, Estonian pronouns, Estonian language, Estonian exercises
|description=Learn the Estonian cases and how to use them with pronouns quickly and easily in this lesson. Practice as much as you can and soon you'll be proficient when using cases and pronouns in your daily conversations!
|description=In this lesson, you will learn about cases and pronouns in Estonian. Explore the fascinating world of Estonian grammar and practice with exercises.
}}
}}
{{Standard-estonian-0-to-A1-Course-TOC}}
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==Other Lessons==
==Other Lessons==
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* [[Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/Future-Tense|Future Tense]]
* [[Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/Future-Tense|Future Tense]]
* [[Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be|How to Use Be]]
* [[Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be|How to Use Be]]


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Latest revision as of 18:48, 20 June 2023


Estonia-Timeline-PolyglotClub.jpg
Standard Estonian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Introduction to Estonian grammar → Cases and pronouns

Introduction[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit source]


Introduction to Estonian


Greetings and Introductions


Nouns and Pronouns


Numbers and Time


Verbs and Tenses


Daily Activities


Adjectives and Adverbs


Food and Dining


Estonian Traditions


Travel and Transportation


Prepositions and Conjunctions


At Home and Work


Estonian History


Negation and Questions



Other Lessons[edit | edit source]



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