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{{Standard-estonian-Page-Top}}
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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]] → Verbs and Tenses → Past Tense</div>
<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.
 
In this lesson, we will cover the following topics:


__TOC__
__TOC__


== Introduction ==
=== Importance of the Past Tense ===
In this lesson, we will explore the past tense in Standard Estonian. The past tense is an essential aspect of the language as it allows us to talk about actions and events that have already happened. Understanding how to form and use the past tense will greatly enhance your ability to communicate in Estonian and express yourself more accurately.  
 
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 ===


Throughout this lesson, we will delve into the details of the past tense, including the conjugation of regular and irregular verbs. We will provide numerous examples to illustrate each point and give you plenty of opportunities to practice what you've learned. Additionally, we will explore any regional variations in the usage or understanding of the past tense and share interesting cultural facts related to the topic.
1. '''Overview of Past Tense Conjugation''': Learn how to form the past tense for regular and irregular verbs.


By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of how to form and use the past tense in Estonian, which will greatly expand your ability to express yourself and communicate effectively in the language.
2. '''Examples''': We will provide numerous examples to illustrate how the past tense is used in different contexts.


== Forming the Past Tense ==
3. '''Practice Exercises''': You will have the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned through various exercises and scenarios.
To form the past tense in Estonian, we generally add the suffix "-s" to the verb stem. However, the past tense can be formed differently for regular and irregular verbs. Let's explore each of these categories in more detail.
 
4. '''Solutions and Explanations''': Detailed answers will be provided for each exercise to reinforce your understanding.
 
== Overview of Past Tense Conjugation ==


=== Regular Verbs ===
=== Regular Verbs ===
Regular verbs follow a predictable pattern when forming the past tense. To create the past tense, we add the suffix "-s" to the verb stem. Here are some examples:
 
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''':


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| lugema (to read) - lugesin || ˈluɡemɑ - ˈluɡesin || I read
|-
|-
| Mängima || mɑ̃ŋgimɑ || to play
 
| lugema - lugesid || ˈluɡemɑ - ˈluɡesid || you read
 
|-
|-
| Sööma || sœ:mɑ || to eat
 
| lugema - luges || ˈluɡemɑ - ˈluɡes || he/she/it read
 
|-
|-
| Lugema || lugemɑ || to read
 
| lugema - lugesime || ˈluɡemɑ - ˈluɡesime || we read
 
|-
 
| lugema - lugesite || ˈluɡemɑ - ˈluɡesite || you (plural) read
 
|-
 
| lugema - lugesid || ˈluɡemɑ - ˈluɡesid || they read
 
|}
|}


As you can see from the examples above, the verb stem remains the same, and we simply add the "-s" suffix to indicate the past tense.
=== Irregular Verbs ===
 
Irregular verbs do not follow the same predictable patterns as regular verbs. Each irregular verb may have its unique past tense form.


=== Irregular Verbs ===
* '''Common Irregular Verbs''':
Irregular verbs, on the other hand, do not follow the same pattern as regular verbs when forming the past tense. These verbs undergo changes in their stem or have completely different forms in the past tense. Here are some examples of irregular verbs in the past tense:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Standard Estonian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| olema (to be) - olin || ˈole.mɑ - ˈolin || I was
|-
| olema - olid || ˈole.mɑ - ˈolid || you were
|-
|-
| Olema || ole:mɑ || to be
 
| olema - oli || ˈole.mɑ - ˈoli || he/she/it was
 
|-
|-
| Tulema || tulɛmɑ || to come
 
| olema - olime || ˈole.mɑ - ˈolime || we were
 
|-
|-
| Saama || sɑ:mɑ || to get
 
| olema - olite || ˈole.mɑ - ˈolite || you (plural) were
 
|-
 
| olema - olid || ˈole.mɑ - ˈolid || they were
 
|}
|}


In the examples above, you can see that the verb forms in the past tense are different from their present tense counterparts. It's important to familiarize yourself with the irregular verbs and their past tense forms to use them correctly in sentences.
== Examples of Using the Past Tense ==
 
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.'''


== Using the Past Tense ==
* '''Standard Estonian''': Me mängisime mänge.
Now that we know how to form the past tense, let's explore how to use it in sentences. In Estonian, the past tense is used to talk about actions or events that have already happened. Here are some examples:


* Ma mängisin jalgpalli eile. (I played football yesterday.)
* '''Pronunciation''': [me ˈmæŋɡisime ˈmæŋɡe]
* Ta sõi hommikusööki restoranis. (He ate breakfast at the restaurant.)
* Nad lugesid raamatut terve õhtu. (They read a book the whole evening.)


In the examples above, the past tense is used to describe activities that occurred in the past. It's important to note that the past tense is not limited to a specific time frame but can refer to any past event.
10. '''He wrote a letter.'''


=== Asking Questions in the Past Tense ===
* '''Standard Estonian''': Ta kirjutas kirja.
To ask questions in the past tense, we can use question words such as "kes" (who), "mis" (what), "millal" (when), and "kus" (where). Here are some examples:


* Kes mängis eile jalgpalli? (Who played football yesterday?)
* '''Pronunciation''': [tɑ ˈkiɾʊtɑs ˈkiɾjɑ]
* Mis sa sõid hommikusöögiks? (What did you eat for breakfast?)
* Millal nad lugesid raamatut? (When did they read the book?)
* Kus te käisite puhkusel? (Where did you go on vacation?)


By using question words and the past tense, we can inquire about specific details of past events or actions.
11. '''I saw a beautiful sunset.'''


=== Negative Sentences in the Past Tense ===
* '''Standard Estonian''': Ma nägin ilusat päikeseloojangut.
To form negative sentences in the past tense, we use the negation particle "ei" before the verb. Here are some examples:


* Ma ei mänginud jalgpalli eile. (I didn't play football yesterday.)
* '''Pronunciation''': [mɑ ˈnæɡin ˈilusat ˈpæi.kesˌloːjɑŋut]
* Ta ei söönud hommikusööki restoranis. (He didn't eat breakfast at the restaurant.)
* Nad ei lugenud raamatut terve õhtu. (They didn't read a book the whole evening.)


By adding "ei" before the verb in the past tense, we indicate that the action did not happen.
12. '''You (singular) danced at the party.'''


== Cultural Insight ==
* '''Standard Estonian''': Sa tantsisid peol.
In Estonian culture, the past tense is commonly used to share personal experiences, tell stories, and reminisce about past events. Estonians have a rich storytelling tradition, and the past tense plays a crucial role in conveying the narrative and creating a vivid picture of the past.


Estonia's history is characterized by a complex interplay of influences from neighboring countries and empires. Over the centuries, Estonia has been under Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule, which has shaped the language and culture of the country. The past tense allows Estonians to reflect on their history and express the impact of these influences on their collective identity.
* '''Pronunciation''': [sɑ ˈtɑntsisid ˈpe.ol]


One interesting cultural fact is that Estonians have a strong connection to nature and the changing seasons. The past tense is often used to describe seasonal activities, such as picking berries in the summer or skiing in the winter. These activities hold cultural significance and are deeply rooted in Estonian traditions and way of life.
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 ==
== Practice Exercises ==
Now it's time to practice what you've learned! Complete the following exercises to reinforce your understanding of the past tense in Estonian.


Exercise 1: Conjugate the following regular verbs in the past tense:
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.
* Mängima (to play)
 
* Sööma (to eat)
=== Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks ===
* Lugema (to read)
 
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.


Solution:
=== Exercise 5: Question Formation ===
* Mängisin
* Sõin
* Lugesin


Exercise 2: Conjugate the following irregular verbs in the past tense:
Formulate questions in the past tense based on the following prompts.
* Olema (to be)
* Tulema (to come)
* Saama (to get)


Solution:
1. What did you eat for dinner?
* Olin
* Tulin
* Sain


Exercise 3: Create sentences using the past tense for the following prompts:
2. Where did you go yesterday?
* Eile (yesterday)
* Restoranis (at the restaurant)
* Terve õhtu (the whole evening)
* Puhkusel (on vacation)


Solution:
3. Who did you meet last week?
* Ma mängisin jalgpalli eile. (I played football yesterday.)
* Ta sõi hommikusööki restoranis. (He ate breakfast at the restaurant.)
* Nad lugesid raamatut terve õhtu. (They read a book the whole evening.)
* Me käisime puhkusel Hispaanias. (We went on vacation to Spain.)


== Conclusion ==
4. When did they arrive?
Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to form and use the past tense in Estonian. The past tense allows you to talk about past events and activities, expanding your ability to communicate in the language. Remember to practice using the past tense in various contexts to reinforce your understanding and fluency.


In the next lesson, we will continue our exploration of verbs and tenses in Estonian by learning about the future tense. See you there!
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_
 
* 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.


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|description=In this lesson, you will learn how to form and use the past tense in Estonian. Understand the conjugation of regular and irregular verbs and practice using them in sentences and questions.
 
|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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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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