Language/Standard-estonian/Grammar/Present-Tense
Introduction
In Estonian language, the present tense is used to describe actions that are happening right now or regularly. It is an essential part of the language and one that you will use frequently. The present tense forms are relatively simple, and once you master them, you will be able to communicate better in Estonian. In this lesson, you will learn how to form and use the present tense in Estonian. You will also learn about the conjugation of both regular and irregular verbs.
Regular Verbs
Conjugation
In Estonian, the present tense of most regular verbs is formed by removing the infinitive ending "ma" and adding the corresponding personal endings. The table below shows the personal endings for regular verbs:
| Person | Ending |
|---|---|
| I (minä) | -n |
| You (sina) | -d |
| He/She/It (tema) | --b, --v, --d, --t, --n, --g, --z or -b |
| We (meie) | -me |
| You (teie) | -te |
| They (nemad) | -vad |
The personal endings are added directly to the stem of the verb. To form the stem, remove the infinitive ending "ma". Here are some examples of regular verbs in the present tense:
| Standard Estonian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ma räägin | ma ræikin | I speak |
| sa töötad | sa tyytot | You work |
| tema õpib | tema eopib | He/She/It learns |
| meie laulame | meie laulame | We sing |
| teie tantsite | teie tantsite | You dance |
| nemad joovad | nemad yovad | They drink |
As you can see, the personal endings vary based on the subject of the sentence. In the third person singular (he/she/it), the ending requires more attention, as it can take seven different forms.
Example Sentences
Here are some example sentences using regular verbs in the present tense:
- Ma kirjutan kirja. (I am writing a letter.)
- Sa joonistad ilusat pilti. (You are drawing a beautiful picture.)
- Täna on ilus ilm. (Today is beautiful weather.)
- Me laulame laulu. (We are singing a song.)
- Te ootate bussi. (You are waiting for the bus.)
- Nemad mängivad palli. (They are playing ball.)
Irregular Verbs
Conjugation
In Estonian, there are some irregular verbs that do not follow the regular conjugation pattern. These verbs have unique forms in the present tense, and you will need to memorize them. Here are some examples of irregular verbs in the present tense:
| Standard Estonian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ma teen | ma te-en | I do/make |
| sa näed | sa naed | You see |
| tema annab | tema annab | He/She/It gives |
| meile meeldib | meile meeldib | We like |
| teate | teate | You know |
| nemad tulevad | nemad tulevad | They come |
As you can see, the forms of irregular verbs do not follow a single pattern, and so they must be memorized.
Example Sentences
Here are some example sentences using irregular verbs in the present tense:
- Ma teen tööd. (I am working.)
- Sa näed mind? (Do you see me?)
- Tema annab kingituse. (He/She/It is giving a gift.)
- Meile meeldib muusika. (We like music.)
- Teate, kus asub bussijaam? (Do you know where the bus station is?)
- Nemad tulevad hilja. (They are coming late.)
Negative Form
To form the negative present tense in Estonian, add "ei" before the verb stem. The personal endings then follow the stem. Here are some examples of negative sentences in the present tense:
| Standard Estonian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ma ei räägi | ma ei ræigi | I am not speaking |
| sa ei tööta | sa ei tyot-ah | You are not working |
| tema ei õpi | tema ei eop-i | He/She/It is not learning |
| meie ei laula | meie ei laula | We are not singing |
| teie ei tantsi | teie ei tantsi | You are not dancing |
| nemad ei joo | nemad ei yoo | They are not drinking |
Interrogative Form
To form a question in the present tense in Estonian, invert the subject and the finite verb. In other words, place the verb before the subject. Here are some examples of interrogative sentences in the present tense:
| Standard Estonian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Räägid sa eesti keelt? | Ræikid sa eesti keelt | Do you speak Estonian? |
| Kas tema töötab siin? | Kas tema tyot-ahb siin | Does he/she work here? |
| Laulad sa hästi? | Laulad sa haest-i | Do you sing well? |
Conclusion
In this lesson, you learned about the present tense in Estonian. You learned how to form and use the present tense for both regular and irregular verbs. You also learned how to form negative and interrogative sentences using the present tense. Practice using these forms in sentences and questions, and you will soon master the present tense in Estonian.