Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/Noun-Cases
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Noun Cases in Estonian
Noun cases are an essential aspect of the Estonian language. A noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In Estonian, nouns decline or change form based on their role in the sentence. There are 14 different noun cases in Estonian, each with its own unique form and function. In this lesson, we will focus on the three most commonly used cases: nominative, genitive, and partitive.
Nominative Case
The nominative case is the default form of a noun. It is used when a noun is the subject of a sentence or a predicate noun that renames the subject. For example:
| Standard Estonian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Minu sõber räägib eesti keelt. | MEE-noo SÕH-ber RAH-gib EH-sti KEHLT | My friend speaks Estonian. |
| See on kaunis lill. | SEH-ehn on KAU-nis LILL | This is a beautiful flower. |
In the first example, "sõber" (friend) is the subject of the sentence, and in the second example, "lill" (flower) is the predicate noun that renames the subject "see" (this).
Genitive Case
The genitive case indicates possession or the "of" phrase in English. It is also used after certain prepositions, such as "ilma" (without) and "mööda" (along). For example:
| Standard Estonian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Mu venna auto on punane. | Moo VEHN-na AW-toh on POO-nah-deh | My brother's car is red. |
| Ta on sõidu ilma rahata. | Tah on SÕI-doo IL-mah RAH-tah | He is traveling without money. |
In the first example, "venna" (brother's) is in the genitive case to show possession. In the second example, "ilma" is a preposition that requires the genitive case to indicate what he is traveling without.
Partitive Case
The partitive case is used to show an incomplete action or an indefinite quantity. It is also used after certain verbs, such as "sööma" (to eat) and "jooma" (to drink). For example:
| Standard Estonian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ma söön kana. | Mah SÖÖN KAH-na | I am eating chicken. |
| Ta joob piima. | Tah JOOB PEE-mah | He is drinking milk. |
In these examples, "kana" (chicken) and "piima" (milk) are in the partitive case because the action of eating or drinking is incomplete, and an indefinite quantity is assumed.
Other Noun Cases
While the nominative, genitive, and partitive cases are the most commonly used in Estonian, there are many other cases that serve specific functions, such as the illative case for motion towards, and the inessive case for location inside. Here are some examples:
- Illative case: Ma lähen poodi. (I am going to the store.)
- Inessive case: Vihm sajab majas. (It is raining inside the house.)
- Elative case: Nad tulevad metsast. (They are coming out of the forest.)
- Allative case: Ta annab kingituse sõbrale. (He gives the gift to the friend.)
- Adessive case: Ta istub laua taga. (He is sitting behind the table.)
Conclusion
Understanding noun cases in Estonian is essential for developing fluency and accuracy in the language. By mastering the nominative, genitive, and partitive cases, you can communicate effectively in many situations. Keep practicing and exploring the other cases, and you'll be well on your way to speaking Estonian with confidence!
Congratulations on finishing this lesson! Explore these related pages to keep learning: Adverbs & Basic Sentence Structure.
Other Lessons
- Alphabet and Pronunciation
- Gender
- How to Use Be
- Adjectives and comparison
- Cases and pronouns
- Prepositions
- Adjective Declension
- Verbs and tenses
- Conditional Mood
- Questions
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