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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]] → Past Tense</div>
Welcome to the fascinating world of Estonian grammar! In this lesson, we will dive into the past tense, a crucial component of any language that allows us to express actions that have already occurred. Understanding how to properly use the past tense will significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Estonian, allowing you to share stories, recount experiences, and discuss what you did yesterday or last week.


<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]] → Past Tense</div>
In this lesson, we will cover the following topics:


__TOC__
__TOC__


==Introduction==
=== Importance of the Past Tense ===


In this lesson, you will learn how to form and use the past tense in Estonian. You will understand the conjugation of regular and irregular verbs and practice using them in sentences and questions. This lesson is part of the "Complete 0 to A1 Standard Estonian Course", designed for complete beginners who want to learn Standard Estonian from scratch.
The past tense is vital for storytelling and sharing personal experiences. It enables you to describe events that have already happened, making your conversations more colorful and engaging. Whether you want to reminisce about a vacation, talk about your last meal, or explain how you spent your weekend, mastering the past tense is essential.


=== Structure of the Lesson ===


<span link>Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: [[Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/Question-Words-and-Formation|Question Words and Formation]] & [[Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/Conjunctions|Conjunctions]].</span>
1. '''Overview of Past Tense Conjugation''': Learn how to form the past tense for regular and irregular verbs.
==Regular Verbs in Past Tense==


<p>Regular verbs in Estonian form the past tense with the suffix -sid. The -sid ending is added to the stem of the infinitive form of the verb. The table below shows the conjugation of the verb "sööma" (to eat) in the past tense:</p>
2. '''Examples''': We will provide numerous examples to illustrate how the past tense is used in different contexts.


{| class="wikitable"
3. '''Practice Exercises''': You will have the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned through various exercises and scenarios.
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
 
|-
4. '''Solutions and Explanations''': Detailed answers will be provided for each exercise to reinforce your understanding.
| ma sõin || ma ˈsɤ.in || I ate
 
|-
== Overview of Past Tense Conjugation ==
| sa sõid || sa ˈsɤi̯d || you ate (singular)
 
|-
=== Regular Verbs ===
| tema sõi || ˈtema ˈsɤi̯ || he/she ate
 
|-
Regular verbs in Estonian typically follow a predictable pattern when conjugating into the past tense. Generally, you take the verb stem and add specific endings.
| meie sõime || ˈmejej ˈsɤi̯.me || we ate
 
|-
* '''Past Tense Endings for Regular Verbs''':
| teie sõite || ˈtejej ˈsɤi̯.te || you ate (plural)  
 
|-
* For '''singular''':
| nemad sõid || ˈnemɑd ˈsɤi̯d || they ate
 
|}
* '''1st person''': -sin (I)
 
* '''2nd person''': -sid (you)


<p>Note that the verb "sööma" has a vowel change from "ö" to "õ" in the first-person singular and plural forms.</p>
* '''3rd person''': -s (he/she/it)


<p>Here are some other examples of regular verbs in the past tense:</p>
* For '''plural''':


<ul>
* '''1st person''': -sime (we)
<li>sa ootasid (you waited)</li>
<li>tema käis (he/she went)</li>
<li>meie rääkisime (we talked)</li>
<li>teie tegite (you did)</li>
<li>nemad küsisid (they asked)</li>
</ul>


==Irregular Verbs in Past Tense==
* '''2nd person''': -site (you)


<p>There are several important irregular verbs in Estonian that have different forms in the past tense. Here are some of the most common ones:</p>
* '''3rd person''': -sid (they)


<ul>
* '''Example Table of Regular Verbs''':
<li>tegema (to do):</li>
</ul>


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| ma tegin || ma ˈte.gin || I did
 
| lugema (to read) - lugesin || ˈluɡemɑ - ˈluɡesin || I read
 
|-
|-
| sa tegid || sa ˈte.kit || you did (singular)
 
| lugema - lugesid || ˈluɡemɑ - ˈluɡesid || you read
 
|-
|-
| tema tegi || ˈtema ˈte.gi || he/she did
 
| lugema - luges || ˈluɡemɑ - ˈluɡes || he/she/it read
 
|-
|-
| meie tegime || ˈmejej ˈte.gi.me || we did
 
| lugema - lugesime || ˈluɡemɑ - ˈluɡesime || we read
 
|-
|-
| teie tegite || ˈtejej ˈte.ki.te || you did (plural)  
 
| lugema - lugesite || ˈluɡemɑ - ˈluɡesite || you (plural) read
 
|-
|-
| nemad tegid || ˈnemɑd ˈte.kit || they did
 
| lugema - lugesid || ˈluɡemɑ - ˈluɡesid || they read
 
|}
|}


<ul>
=== Irregular Verbs ===
<li>minema (to go):</li>
 
</ul>
Irregular verbs do not follow the same predictable patterns as regular verbs. Each irregular verb may have its unique past tense form.
 
* '''Common Irregular Verbs''':


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| ma läksin || ma ˈlæk.sin || I went
 
| olema (to be) - olin || ˈole.mɑ - ˈolin || I was
 
|-
|-
| sa läksid || sa ˈlæ.kit || you went (singular)
 
| olema - olid || ˈole.mɑ - ˈolid || you were
 
|-
|-
| tema läks || ˈtema ˈlæks || he/she went
 
| olema - oli || ˈole.mɑ - ˈoli || he/she/it was
 
|-
|-
| meie läksime || ˈmejej ˈlæ.ksi.me || we went
 
| olema - olime || ˈole.mɑ - ˈolime || we were
 
|-
|-
| teie läksite || ˈtejej ˈlæ.ksi.te || you went (plural)  
 
| olema - olite || ˈole.mɑ - ˈolite || you (plural) were
 
|-
|-
| nemad läksid || ˈnemɑd ˈlæ.ksit || they went
 
| olema - olid || ˈole.mɑ - ˈolid || they were
 
|}
|}


<ul>
== Examples of Using the Past Tense ==
<li>saama (to get):</li>
 
</ul>
Now that you know how to conjugate both regular and irregular verbs into the past tense, let’s look at some practical examples.
 
=== Example Sentences ===
 
1. '''I read a book yesterday.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Ma lugesin eile raamatu.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [mɑ ˈluɡesin ˈeile ˈrɑːmɑtu]
 
2. '''You (singular) went to the store.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Sa läksid poodi.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [sɑ ˈlæksid ˈpoːdi]
 
3. '''He played football last week.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Ta mängis jalgpalli eelmisel nädalal.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [tɑ ˈmæŋɡis ˈjɑlɡˌpɑlːi ˈeːlmise ˈnædɑlɑl]
 
4. '''We cooked dinner.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Me keetsime õhtusöögi.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [me ˈkeːtsime ˈoːxtusoˌeːɡi]
 
5. '''They watched a movie.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Nad vaatasid filmi.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [nɑd ˈvɑːtɑsid ˈfilmi]
 
6. '''I was at home.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Ma olin kodus.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [mɑ ˈolin ˈko.dus]
 
7. '''You (plural) visited Tallinn.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Te külastasite Tallinna.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [te ˈkyːlɑstɑsite ˈtɑlʲnːɑ]
 
8. '''She studied Estonian.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Ta õppis eesti keelt.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [tɑ ˈʊpːis ˈeːsti ˈkeːlt]
 
9. '''We played games.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Me mängisime mänge.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [me ˈmæŋɡisime ˈmæŋɡe]
 
10. '''He wrote a letter.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Ta kirjutas kirja.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [tɑ ˈkiɾʊtɑs ˈkiɾjɑ]
 
11. '''I saw a beautiful sunset.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Ma nägin ilusat päikeseloojangut.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [mɑ ˈnæɡin ˈilusat ˈpæi.kesˌloːjɑŋut]
 
12. '''You (singular) danced at the party.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Sa tantsisid peol.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [sɑ ˈtɑntsisid ˈpe.ol]
 
13. '''They traveled to Finland.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Nad reisisid Soome.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [nɑd ˈreisisid ˈsoːme]
 
14. '''We learned something new.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Me õppisime midagi uut.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [me ˈʊpːisime ˈmi.dɑɡi ˈuːt]
 
15. '''He called me yesterday.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Ta helistas mulle eile.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [tɑ ˈhelisˌtɑs ˈmul.le ˈeile]
 
16. '''She painted a picture.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Ta maalis pilti.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [tɑ ˈmɑːlis ˈpil.ti]
 
17. '''I forgot my keys.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Ma unustasin oma võtmed.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [mɑ ˈu.nus.tɑ.sin ˈo.mɑ ˈvɨt.med]
 
18. '''You (plural) helped me.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Te aitasite mind.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [te ˈɑitɑsite ˈmind]
 
19. '''We enjoyed the concert.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Me nautisime kontserti.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [me ˈnɑutisime ˈkɔn.t͡sɛr.ti]
 
20. '''They found the solution.'''
 
* '''Standard Estonian''': Nad leidsid lahenduse.
 
* '''Pronunciation''': [nɑd ˈleidsid ˈlɑhɛnˌdu.se]
 
== Practice Exercises ==
 
Now it's time to put your knowledge into practice! Below are some exercises to help reinforce what you’ve learned about the past tense.
 
=== Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks ===
 
Complete the sentences by filling in the blanks with the correct past tense form of the verbs in parentheses.
 
1. Ma ___ (minema) poodi. 
 
2. Ta ___ (lugema) raamatut. 
 
3. Me ___ (mängima) jalgpalli. 
 
4. Nad ___ (tantsima) peol. 
 
5. Sa ___ (olema) kodus.
 
=== Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences ===
 
Translate the following sentences into Estonian.
 
1. I was happy.
 
2. They watched a movie.
 
3. She cooked dinner.
 
4. We traveled to Estonia.
 
5. You (plural) danced at the party.
 
=== Exercise 3: Verb Conjugation ===
 
Conjugate the following verbs into the past tense for all pronouns (I, you, he/she/it, we, you (plural), they).
 
1. rääkima (to talk)
 
2. sööma (to eat)
 
3. kirjutama (to write)
 
=== Exercise 4: Create Your Own Sentences ===
 
Write five sentences about what you did last weekend using the past tense.
 
=== Exercise 5: Question Formation ===
 
Formulate questions in the past tense based on the following prompts.
 
1. What did you eat for dinner?
 
2. Where did you go yesterday?
 
3. Who did you meet last week?
 
4. When did they arrive?
 
5. Why did she call you?
 
=== Exercise Solutions ===
 
'''Solutions for Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks'''
 
1. Ma _läksin_ poodi.
 
2. Ta _luges_ raamatut.
 
3. Me _mängisime_ jalgpalli.
 
4. Nad _tantsisid_ peol.
 
5. Sa _olid_ kodus.
 
'''Solutions for Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences'''
 
1. Ma olin õnnelik.
 
2. Nad vaatasid filmi.
 
3. Ta keetis õhtusöögi.
 
4. Me reisisime Eestisse.
 
5. Te tantsisite peol.
 
'''Solutions for Exercise 3: Verb Conjugation'''
 
1. rääkima (to talk)
 
* Ma _rääkisin_
 
* Sa _rääkisid_
 
* Ta _rääkis_
 
* Me _rääkisime_
 
* Te _rääkisite_
 
* Nad _rääkisid_
 
2. sööma (to eat)
 
* Ma _söön_
 
* Sa _sööd_
 
* Ta _sõi_


{| class="wikitable"
* Me _söime_
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| ma sain || ma ˈsɑin || I got
|-
| sa said || sa ˈsai̯d || you got (singular)
|-
| tema sai || ˈtema ˈsɑi̯ || he/she got
|-
| meie saime || ˈmejej ˈsɑi̯.me || we got
|-
| teie saite || ˈtejej ˈsɑi̯.te || you got (plural)
|-
| nemad said || ˈnemɑd ˈsai̯d || they got
|}


<p>These verbs have different stem forms and vowel changes in the past tense, so you will need to memorize them separately.</p>
* Te _söisite_


==Negative Form of Past Tense==
* Nad _sõid_


<p>To form the negative of past tense in Estonian, add the particle "ei" before the verb and conjugate the verb in the present tense. Here is an example with the regular verb "sööma" (to eat):</p>
3. kirjutama (to write)


{| class="wikitable"
* Ma _kirjutasin_
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| ma ei söönud || ma ˈei ˈsɤi̯.nut || I did not eat
|-
| sa ei söönud || sa ˈei ˈsɤi̯.nut || you did not eat (singular)
|-
| tema ei söönud || ˈtema ˈei ˈsɤi̯.nut || he/she did not eat
|-
| meie ei söönud || ˈmejej ˈei ˈsɤi̯.nuð || we did not eat
|-
| teie ei söönud || ˈtejej ˈei ˈsɤi̯.nuð || you did not eat (plural)
|-
| nemad ei söönud || ˈnemɑd ˈei ˈsɤi̯.nut || they did not eat
|}


<p>Here is an example with the irregular verb "tegema" (to do):</p>
* Sa _kirjutasid_


{| class="wikitable"
* Ta _kirjutas_
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| ma ei teinud || ma ˈei ˈtei̯.nut || I did not do
|-
| sa ei teinud || sa ˈei ˈtei̯.nut || you did not do (singular)
|-
| tema ei teinud || ˈtema ˈei ˈtei̯.nuð || he/she did not do
|-
| meie ei teinud || ˈmejej ˈei ˈtei̯.nuð || we did not do
|-
| teie ei teinud || ˈtejej ˈei ˈtei̯.nuð || you did not do (plural)
|-
| nemad ei teinud || ˈnemɑd ˈei ˈtei̯.nut || they did not do
|}


==Questions in Past Tense==
* Me _kirjutasime_


<p>To form questions in the past tense in Estonian, use the question word "kas" (did) and place it before the subject. Here is an example with the regular verb "sööma" (to eat):</p>
* Te _kirjutasite_


<ul>
* Nad _kirjutasid_
<li>Kas sa sõid? (Did you eat?)</li>
</ul>


<p>Here is an example with the irregular verb "tegema" (to do):</p>
'''Solutions for Exercise 4: Create Your Own Sentences'''


<ul>
(Students will provide their own sentences. Sample sentences could include: "I visited my friend." – "Ma külastasin oma sõpra.")
<li>Kas sa tegid? (Did you do?)</li>
</ul>


<p>Note that you can also use question words like "kes" (who), "mis" (what), and "kui palju" (how much) to ask questions about the past.</p>
'''Solutions for Exercise 5: Question Formation'''


==Practice Exercises==
1. Mida sa õhtusöögiks sõid?


<p>Now that you have learned how to form and use the past tense in Estonian, it's time to practice! Use the verbs below to create sentences in the past tense:</p>
2. Kuhu sa eile läksid?


<ul>
3. Keda sa eelmisel nädalal kohtasid?
<li>sõitma (to drive)</li>
<li>mängima (to play)</li>
<li>töötama (to work)</li>
<li>tulema (to come)</li>
</ul>


==Conclusion==
4. Millal nad saabusid?


<p>Congratulations! You have learned how to form and use the past tense in Estonian. Keep practicing with different verbs and contexts to improve your skills. In the next lesson, you will learn about adjectives and adverbs in Estonian.</p>
5. Miks ta sind helistas?


This concludes our lesson on the past tense in Standard Estonian. Remember, practice makes perfect! Keep using what you've learned, and soon enough, speaking about the past will become second nature to you.


<span link>Now that you've completed this lesson, don't stop learning! Check out these related topics: [[Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/Personal-Pronouns|Personal Pronouns]] & [[Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/Adjectives-and-comparison|Adjectives and comparison]].</span>
{{#seo:
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|title=Standard Estonian Grammar → Past Tense
|keywords=Standard Estonian,


{{Standard-estonian-0-to-A1-Course-TOC}}
|title=Learn Past Tense in Standard Estonian
 
|keywords=past tense, Estonian grammar, conjugation, regular verbs, irregular verbs
 
|description=In this lesson, you will learn how to form and use the past tense in Estonian, including verb conjugation and practical exercises to enhance your skills.
 
}}
 
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==Other Lessons==
==Other Lessons==
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* [[Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/Basic-Sentence-Structure|Basic Sentence Structure]]
* [[Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/Basic-Sentence-Structure|Basic Sentence Structure]]
* [[Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/Adverbs|Adverbs]]
* [[Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/Adverbs|Adverbs]]


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Latest revision as of 02:29, 2 August 2024

◀️ Numbers 1-100 — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Present Tense ▶️

Estonia-Timeline-PolyglotClub.jpg
Standard Estonian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Past Tense

Welcome to the fascinating world of Estonian grammar! In this lesson, we will dive into the past tense, a crucial component of any language that allows us to express actions that have already occurred. Understanding how to properly use the past tense will significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Estonian, allowing you to share stories, recount experiences, and discuss what you did yesterday or last week.

In this lesson, we will cover the following topics:

Importance of the Past Tense[edit | edit source]

The past tense is vital for storytelling and sharing personal experiences. It enables you to describe events that have already happened, making your conversations more colorful and engaging. Whether you want to reminisce about a vacation, talk about your last meal, or explain how you spent your weekend, mastering the past tense is essential.

Structure of the Lesson[edit | edit source]

1. Overview of Past Tense Conjugation: Learn how to form the past tense for regular and irregular verbs.

2. Examples: We will provide numerous examples to illustrate how the past tense is used in different contexts.

3. Practice Exercises: You will have the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned through various exercises and scenarios.

4. Solutions and Explanations: Detailed answers will be provided for each exercise to reinforce your understanding.

Overview of Past Tense Conjugation[edit | edit source]

Regular Verbs[edit | edit source]

Regular verbs in Estonian typically follow a predictable pattern when conjugating into the past tense. Generally, you take the verb stem and add specific endings.

  • Past Tense Endings for Regular Verbs:
  • For singular:
  • 1st person: -sin (I)
  • 2nd person: -sid (you)
  • 3rd person: -s (he/she/it)
  • For plural:
  • 1st person: -sime (we)
  • 2nd person: -site (you)
  • 3rd person: -sid (they)
  • Example Table of Regular Verbs:
Standard Estonian Pronunciation English
lugema (to read) - lugesin ˈluɡemɑ - ˈluɡesin I read
lugema - lugesid ˈluɡemɑ - ˈluɡesid you read
lugema - luges ˈluɡemɑ - ˈluɡes he/she/it read
lugema - lugesime ˈluɡemɑ - ˈluɡesime we read
lugema - lugesite ˈluɡemɑ - ˈluɡesite you (plural) read
lugema - lugesid ˈluɡemɑ - ˈluɡesid they read

Irregular Verbs[edit | edit source]

Irregular verbs do not follow the same predictable patterns as regular verbs. Each irregular verb may have its unique past tense form.

  • Common Irregular Verbs:
Standard Estonian Pronunciation English
olema (to be) - olin ˈole.mɑ - ˈolin I was
olema - olid ˈole.mɑ - ˈolid you were
olema - oli ˈole.mɑ - ˈoli he/she/it was
olema - olime ˈole.mɑ - ˈolime we were
olema - olite ˈole.mɑ - ˈolite you (plural) were
olema - olid ˈole.mɑ - ˈolid they were

Examples of Using the Past Tense[edit | edit source]

Now that you know how to conjugate both regular and irregular verbs into the past tense, let’s look at some practical examples.

Example Sentences[edit | edit source]

1. I read a book yesterday.

  • Standard Estonian: Ma lugesin eile raamatu.
  • Pronunciation: [mɑ ˈluɡesin ˈeile ˈrɑːmɑtu]

2. You (singular) went to the store.

  • Standard Estonian: Sa läksid poodi.
  • Pronunciation: [sɑ ˈlæksid ˈpoːdi]

3. He played football last week.

  • Standard Estonian: Ta mängis jalgpalli eelmisel nädalal.
  • Pronunciation: [tɑ ˈmæŋɡis ˈjɑlɡˌpɑlːi ˈeːlmise ˈnædɑlɑl]

4. We cooked dinner.

  • Standard Estonian: Me keetsime õhtusöögi.
  • Pronunciation: [me ˈkeːtsime ˈoːxtusoˌeːɡi]

5. They watched a movie.

  • Standard Estonian: Nad vaatasid filmi.
  • Pronunciation: [nɑd ˈvɑːtɑsid ˈfilmi]

6. I was at home.

  • Standard Estonian: Ma olin kodus.
  • Pronunciation: [mɑ ˈolin ˈko.dus]

7. You (plural) visited Tallinn.

  • Standard Estonian: Te külastasite Tallinna.
  • Pronunciation: [te ˈkyːlɑstɑsite ˈtɑlʲnːɑ]

8. She studied Estonian.

  • Standard Estonian: Ta õppis eesti keelt.
  • Pronunciation: [tɑ ˈʊpːis ˈeːsti ˈkeːlt]

9. We played games.

  • Standard Estonian: Me mängisime mänge.
  • Pronunciation: [me ˈmæŋɡisime ˈmæŋɡe]

10. He wrote a letter.

  • Standard Estonian: Ta kirjutas kirja.
  • Pronunciation: [tɑ ˈkiɾʊtɑs ˈkiɾjɑ]

11. I saw a beautiful sunset.

  • Standard Estonian: Ma nägin ilusat päikeseloojangut.
  • Pronunciation: [mɑ ˈnæɡin ˈilusat ˈpæi.kesˌloːjɑŋut]

12. You (singular) danced at the party.

  • Standard Estonian: Sa tantsisid peol.
  • Pronunciation: [sɑ ˈtɑntsisid ˈpe.ol]

13. They traveled to Finland.

  • Standard Estonian: Nad reisisid Soome.
  • Pronunciation: [nɑd ˈreisisid ˈsoːme]

14. We learned something new.

  • Standard Estonian: Me õppisime midagi uut.
  • Pronunciation: [me ˈʊpːisime ˈmi.dɑɡi ˈuːt]

15. He called me yesterday.

  • Standard Estonian: Ta helistas mulle eile.
  • Pronunciation: [tɑ ˈhelisˌtɑs ˈmul.le ˈeile]

16. She painted a picture.

  • Standard Estonian: Ta maalis pilti.
  • Pronunciation: [tɑ ˈmɑːlis ˈpil.ti]

17. I forgot my keys.

  • Standard Estonian: Ma unustasin oma võtmed.
  • Pronunciation: [mɑ ˈu.nus.tɑ.sin ˈo.mɑ ˈvɨt.med]

18. You (plural) helped me.

  • Standard Estonian: Te aitasite mind.
  • Pronunciation: [te ˈɑitɑsite ˈmind]

19. We enjoyed the concert.

  • Standard Estonian: Me nautisime kontserti.
  • Pronunciation: [me ˈnɑutisime ˈkɔn.t͡sɛr.ti]

20. They found the solution.

  • Standard Estonian: Nad leidsid lahenduse.
  • Pronunciation: [nɑd ˈleidsid ˈlɑhɛnˌdu.se]

Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]

Now it's time to put your knowledge into practice! Below are some exercises to help reinforce what you’ve learned about the past tense.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]

Complete the sentences by filling in the blanks with the correct past tense form of the verbs in parentheses.

1. Ma ___ (minema) poodi.

2. Ta ___ (lugema) raamatut.

3. Me ___ (mängima) jalgpalli.

4. Nad ___ (tantsima) peol.

5. Sa ___ (olema) kodus.

Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences[edit | edit source]

Translate the following sentences into Estonian.

1. I was happy.

2. They watched a movie.

3. She cooked dinner.

4. We traveled to Estonia.

5. You (plural) danced at the party.

Exercise 3: Verb Conjugation[edit | edit source]

Conjugate the following verbs into the past tense for all pronouns (I, you, he/she/it, we, you (plural), they).

1. rääkima (to talk)

2. sööma (to eat)

3. kirjutama (to write)

Exercise 4: Create Your Own Sentences[edit | edit source]

Write five sentences about what you did last weekend using the past tense.

Exercise 5: Question Formation[edit | edit source]

Formulate questions in the past tense based on the following prompts.

1. What did you eat for dinner?

2. Where did you go yesterday?

3. Who did you meet last week?

4. When did they arrive?

5. Why did she call you?

Exercise Solutions[edit | edit source]

Solutions for Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. Ma _läksin_ poodi.

2. Ta _luges_ raamatut.

3. Me _mängisime_ jalgpalli.

4. Nad _tantsisid_ peol.

5. Sa _olid_ kodus.

Solutions for Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences

1. Ma olin õnnelik.

2. Nad vaatasid filmi.

3. Ta keetis õhtusöögi.

4. Me reisisime Eestisse.

5. Te tantsisite peol.

Solutions for Exercise 3: Verb Conjugation

1. rääkima (to talk)

  • Ma _rääkisin_
  • Sa _rääkisid_
  • Ta _rääkis_
  • Me _rääkisime_
  • Te _rääkisite_
  • Nad _rääkisid_

2. sööma (to eat)

  • Ma _söön_
  • Sa _sööd_
  • Ta _sõi_
  • Me _söime_
  • Te _söisite_
  • Nad _sõid_

3. kirjutama (to write)

  • Ma _kirjutasin_
  • Sa _kirjutasid_
  • Ta _kirjutas_
  • Me _kirjutasime_
  • Te _kirjutasite_
  • Nad _kirjutasid_

Solutions for Exercise 4: Create Your Own Sentences

(Students will provide their own sentences. Sample sentences could include: "I visited my friend." – "Ma külastasin oma sõpra.")

Solutions for Exercise 5: Question Formation

1. Mida sa õhtusöögiks sõid?

2. Kuhu sa eile läksid?

3. Keda sa eelmisel nädalal kohtasid?

4. Millal nad saabusid?

5. Miks ta sind helistas?

This concludes our lesson on the past tense in Standard Estonian. Remember, practice makes perfect! Keep using what you've learned, and soon enough, speaking about the past will become second nature to you.

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]



◀️ Numbers 1-100 — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Present Tense ▶️

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