Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/Conjunctions

Rate this lesson:

0.00

(0 votes)

Help - Comments

◀️ Present Tense — Previous Lesson	Next Lesson — Daily Routine ▶️

Standard Estonian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Conjunctions

Understanding conjunctions in Standard Estonian is essential for anyone looking to create more complex and expressive sentences. Conjunctions serve as the glue that holds our sentences together, allowing us to connect words, phrases, and clauses in a seamless and coherent manner. In this lesson, we will explore various types of conjunctions in Estonian, their usage, and provide plenty of examples to illustrate how they function in sentences.

Lesson Structure:

1. Introduction to Conjunctions

2. Types of Conjunctions

Coordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating Conjunctions

3. Using Conjunctions in Sentences

4. Practice Exercises

5. Solutions and Explanations

Introduction to Conjunctions

Conjunctions are critical in Estonian grammar, as they enable speakers to link thoughts and ideas smoothly. By utilizing conjunctions effectively, you can elevate your language skills from simple statements to more intricate expressions. Understanding how to use conjunctions will also help you in listening and reading comprehension, as they often signal relationships between ideas.

Types of Conjunctions

Estonian has two primary types of conjunctions: coordinating conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions. Let’s delve into each type.

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions join words, phrases, or independent clauses that are of equal importance. The most common coordinating conjunctions in Estonian include:

ja (and)

või (or)

aga (but)

kuid (but)

ning (and)

Here are some examples:

Standard Estonian	Pronunciation	English
Ma armastan kohvi ja teed.	ma ar-mas-tan koh-vi ja teed	I love coffee and tea.
Kas sa tahad õuna või banaani?	kas sa ta-had õu-na või ba-naa-ni	Do you want an apple or a banana?
Ta on tark, aga laisk.	ta on tark, a-ga laisk	He is smart, but lazy.
Ma tulen, kuid hiljem.	ma tu-len, kuid hil-jem	I will come, but later.
Meie mängime, ning nad vaatavad.	mei-e mäng-i-me, ning nad va-a-ta-vad	We are playing, and they are watching.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses and connect them to independent clauses. Common subordinating conjunctions in Estonian include:

sest (because)

kui (if)

kuigi (although)

et (that)

kuni (until)

Here are some examples:

Standard Estonian	Pronunciation	English
Ma tulen, sest mul on vaba päev.	ma tu-len, sest mul on va-ba päev	I am coming because I have a day off.
Kui sa tuled, siis me lähme.	kui sa tu-led, siis me läh-me	If you come, then we will go.
Kuigi see on kallis, ostan ma selle.	kui-gi se on kal-lis, os-tan ma sel-le	Although it is expensive, I will buy it.
Ta ütles, et ta tuleb homme.	ta üt-les, et ta tu-leb hom-me	He said that he will come tomorrow.
Oota, kuni ma tulen.	oo-ta, kuni ma tu-len	Wait until I come.

Using Conjunctions in Sentences

Now that we've familiarized ourselves with the types of conjunctions, let's look at how to use them in sentences.

Coordinating Conjunctions: These can be used to join two nouns, verbs, or clauses.

Example: Ma söön õuna ja banaani. (I eat an apple and a banana.)

Subordinating Conjunctions: These help to create more complex sentences by indicating a relationship between the main clause and the subordinate clause.

Example: Ma joon teed, sest olen väsinud. (I drink tea because I am tired.)

Important Note: In Estonian, word order can be flexible, but the conjunctions usually appear before the clause they introduce.

Practice Exercises

Now it's time to put your knowledge into practice! Below are exercises designed to help you apply what you've learned about conjunctions.

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct conjunction:

Ma armastan jalgrattasõitu ___ see on lõbus.

(Options: sest, aga, või)

2. Combine the sentences using a coordinating conjunction:

Ma tahan minna kinno.

Ma tahan süüa.

(Example answer: Ma tahan minna kinno ja süüa.)

3. Translate the following sentences into Estonian:

I will call you if I have time.

(Example answer: Ma helistan sulle, kui mul on aega.)

4. Choose the correct subordinating conjunction:

Ta ei tulnud, ___ ta oli haige.

(Options: et, sest, kui)

5. Rearrange the words to form a correct sentence:

sest / armastan / ma / raamatuid / lugeda.

(Example answer: Ma armastan lugeda raamatuid, sest ...)

6. Create sentences using the conjunctions from the list below:

ja, kuid, sest

(Example: Ma lähen parki, kuid see on kaugel.)

7. Identify the type of conjunction in the following sentences:

Ta joonistas, ja ma värvisin. (Coordinating/Subordinating)

Ma lähen välja, kui see on soe. (Coordinating/Subordinating)

8. Complete the sentence:

Ma tahan õuna, ___ banaani, ___ apelsini. (Options: ja, või, aga)

9. Match the Estonian sentences with their English translations:

1) Ma tulen, kui sa tuled.

2) Ta on õppija, aga mõnikord ta ei taha õppida.

(Translations provided separately)

10. Compose a dialogue using at least three conjunctions:

(Example answer: A: Kas sa tuled kinno? B: Ma ei tea, kas ma saan, sest mul on kodutöö.)

Solutions and Explanations

1. Answer: sest. Explanation: This sentence explains why the speaker loves cycling.

2. Example Answer: Ma tahan minna kinno ja süüa. Explanation: The conjunction "ja" is used to combine two independent clauses.

3. Example Answer: Ma helistan sulle, kui mul on aega. Explanation: "Kui" introduces a condition.

4. Answer: sest. Explanation: This conjunction explains the reason for the subject not coming.

5. Example Answer: Ma armastan lugeda raamatuid, sest ... Explanation: The conjunction introduces a reason.

6. Example: "Ja" connects two ideas, "Kuid" contrasts two thoughts, and "Sest" provides a reason.

7. Answers: 1) Coordinating, 2) Subordinating. Explanation: "Ja" connects; "kui" introduces a condition.

8. Answer: või. Explanation: "Või" indicates a choice between different fruits.

9. 1) I will come if you come. 2) He is a learner, but sometimes he does not want to learn.

10. Example Dialogue: A: Kas sa tuled kinno? B: Ma ei tea, kas ma saan, sest mul on kodutöö. Explanation: This dialogue uses conjunctions to connect thoughts.

This concludes our lesson on conjunctions in Standard Estonian. Remember to practice frequently to get comfortable using these connectors in your speech and writing. Happy learning!

Table of Contents - Standard Estonian Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

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

◀️ Present Tense — Previous Lesson	Next Lesson — Daily Routine ▶️

Contributors

Maintenance script

Create a new Lesson