Understanding Eesti Word Order
In the Estonian language, the order of words in a sentence is very important. It helps us understand who is doing what and when. Let's explore how we can arrange words to make sentences clear and correct.
The most common word order in Estonian is Subject-Verb-Object (SVO). This means the person or thing doing the action comes first, followed by the action, and then the person or thing receiving the action.
Examples
- Poiss loeb raamatut.
- Tüdruk sööb õuna.
- Koer jälitab kassi.
When asking questions, the word order can change. Often, the verb comes first, followed by the subject.
Examples
- Kas sa näed seda?
- Kas ta tuleb homme?
- Kas nad mängivad väljas?
In Estonian, adjectives usually come before the noun they describe. This means words that tell us more about a person or thing come first.
Examples
- Suur maja on ilus.
- Vana auto on aeglane.
- Roheline puu on kõrge.
Time and Place in Sentences
When talking about time or place, these details usually come at the beginning or the end of a sentence. They help us understand when or where something happens.
Examples
- Homme lähen kooli.
- Lähen kooli homme.
- Parkis mängime palli.
Modifiers and Their Position
Modifiers, which are words that change or add to the meaning of other words, can come before or after the word they modify, depending on what makes the sentence clear.
Examples
- Ta kiiresti jookseb.
- Ta jookseb kiiresti.
- Me vaikselt laulsime.