Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/Adjectives-and-comparison
Welcome to our lesson on Adjectives and Comparison in Standard Estonian! This is an exciting step in your journey toward mastering the Estonian language. Why are adjectives important, you ask? Adjectives add color and depth to our conversations, allowing us to describe people, places, and things more vividly. They help you express opinions, share experiences, and make comparisons, which are essential in everyday communication.
In this lesson, we will explore:
- The formation and usage of adjectives in Estonian.
- The rules for comparing adjectives, including the comparative and superlative forms.
- A variety of examples to illustrate these concepts.
- Engaging exercises to practice what you've learned.
Adjectives in Estonian
Estonian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify in terms of case, number, and gender. This means that the ending of the adjective changes depending on the noun it describes.
Basic Formation of Adjectives
In Estonian, adjectives can be formed in several ways, but they typically have a root and can take various endings. Here are some common adjectives:
Standard Estonian | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
ilus | ˈilʊs | beautiful |
suur | suːr | big |
väike | ˈvɛi̯kɛ | small |
kiire | ˈkiːrɛ | fast |
aeglane | ˈæɡlɑnɛ | slow |
kallis | ˈkɑlːis | expensive |
odav | ˈodɑv | cheap |
rõõmus | ˈrɤːmus | happy |
kurb | kurb | sad |
tark | tɑrk | smart |
As you can see, Estonian adjectives often follow a simple and consistent pattern. Let's dive deeper into how these adjectives work with nouns!
Adjective Agreement
Estonian adjectives must agree with the nouns in case, number, and gender. This is achieved through declension. Here’s how the adjective "ilus" (beautiful) changes with different nouns:
Noun | Adjective | Case | Translation |
---|---|---|---|
tüdruk | ilus tüdruk | nominative singular | beautiful girl |
poisid | ilusad poisid | nominative plural | beautiful boys |
tüdruku | ilusa tüdruku | genitive singular | of a beautiful girl |
poiste | ilusa poiste | genitive plural | of beautiful boys |
As you can see, the adjective “ilus” changes its form depending on the noun it describes.
Comparison of Adjectives
Comparing adjectives is essential in any language. In Estonian, we use different forms of adjectives to indicate comparison: comparative and superlative.
Comparative Form
The comparative form is used when comparing two entities. In Estonian, it often involves adding the suffix -m or -em to the base adjective. Here are some examples:
Standard Estonian | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
ilusam | ˈilʊsɑm | more beautiful |
suurem | ˈsuːrɛm | bigger |
väiksem | ˈvɛi̯ksem | smaller |
kiirem | ˈkiːrɛm | faster |
aeglasem | ˈæɡlɑsɛm | slower |
kallim | ˈkɑlːim | more expensive |
odavam | ˈodɑvɑm | cheaper |
rõõmsam | ˈrɤːmsɑm | happier |
kurvem | ˈkurvɛm | sadder |
targem | ˈtɑrɡɛm | smarter |
In these examples, you can see how the adjectives change to reflect a comparative meaning.
Superlative Form
The superlative form is used to describe the highest degree of an adjective. In Estonian, this usually involves adding the suffix -aim or -im. Here are some examples:
Standard Estonian | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
ilusaim | ˈilʊsɑim | most beautiful |
suurim | ˈsuːrim | biggest |
väikseim | ˈvɛi̯kseim | smallest |
kiirem | ˈkiːrɛm | fastest |
aeglasem | ˈæɡlɑsɛm | slowest |
kallim | ˈkɑlːim | most expensive |
odavaim | ˈodɑvɑim | cheapest |
rõõmsaim | ˈrɤːmsɑim | happiest |
kurbaim | ˈkurbɑim | saddest |
targem | ˈtɑrɡɛm | smartest |
As you can see, the superlative form provides a way to express the highest level of an adjective.
Practice Exercises
Now that you have learned about adjectives and their comparative forms, it's time to put your knowledge to the test! Below are some exercises that will help reinforce what you've learned.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the adjective in parentheses.
1. Maria is __________ (ilus) girl.
2. This house is __________ (suur) than that one.
3. This is the __________ (odav) restaurant in town.
Solutions:
1. Maria is ilus girl.
2. This house is suurem than that one.
3. This is the odavaim restaurant in town.
Exercise 2: Match the Adjective with Its Comparative Form
Match the adjectives on the left with their comparative form on the right.
1. ilus (a) ilusam
2. suur (b) suurem
3. väike (c) väiksem
4. kallis (d) kallim
Solutions:
1-a, 2-b, 3-c, 4-d
Exercise 3: Create Sentences
Write sentences using the following adjectives in their comparative form:
1. kiire
2. kallis
3. rõõmus
Solutions:
1. This car is kiire than that one.
2. This dress is kallim than the other.
3. Maria is rõõmsam than her sister.
Exercise 4: Identify the Superlative Form
Identify the superlative form of the following adjectives:
1. suur
2. väike
3. kallis
Solutions:
1. suurim
2. väikseim
3. kallim
Exercise 5: True or False
Determine whether the statements are true or false.
1. "ilusaim" means "more beautiful."
2. "suurem" is the comparative form of "suur."
3. "odavaim" means "the cheapest."
Solutions:
1. False
2. True
3. True
Exercise 6: Translate the Sentences
Translate the following sentences into Estonian using the correct form of the adjectives.
1. She is the smartest student.
2. This apple is bigger than that one.
3. He is happier now.
Solutions:
1. Ta on kõige targem õpilane.
2. See õun on suurem kui too.
3. Ta on nüüd rõõmsam.
Exercise 7: Adjective Agreement Quiz
Choose the correct form of the adjective to complete the sentences.
1. See on __________ (ilus) maja. (ilusa, ilus)
2. Ma tahan __________ (kallis) auto. (kallim, kallis)
3. Nad on __________ (kurv) inimesed. (kurvad, kurb)
Solutions:
1. See on ilus maja.
2. Ma tahan kallim auto.
3. Nad on kurvad inimesed.
Exercise 8: Fill in the Comparative Form
Fill in the blanks using the comparative form of the adjectives in parentheses.
1. This book is __________ (huvitav) than that one.
2. My brother is __________ (noor) than I am.
3. This task is __________ (keeruline) than the last one.
Solutions:
1. This book is huvitavam than that one.
2. My brother is noorem than I am.
3. This task is keerulisem than the last one.
Exercise 9: Sentence Construction
Construct sentences using one adjective, its comparative, and its superlative form.
Example:
- Adjective: kiire
- Comparative: kiirem
- Superlative: kiireim
Solutions:
- The car is kiire.
- This car is kiirem than that one.
- This is the kiireim car in the race.
Exercise 10: Role Play
In pairs, practice a conversation using adjectives and comparisons. Describe your favorite places, comparing them to others.
Example:
A: My favorite place is the beach. It's ilu.
B: But the mountains are kallim and suurem!
As you can see, understanding adjectives and their forms in Estonian opens up a world of expression. Whether you’re describing your day or comparing your favorite things, adjectives are essential in making your communication richer and more meaningful.
Keep practicing, and don't hesitate to revisit this lesson whenever you need to refresh your knowledge. Remember, learning a new language is a journey, and every step counts!
Other Lessons
- Cases and pronouns
- Articles
- Verbs and tenses
- How to Use Be
- Nouns and possessive suffixes
- Negation
- Gender
- Plurals
- How to Use Have