Abessive (-ta)
Add -ta to the genitive stem to say "without": suhkur → suhkru → suhkruta.
How It Works
The abessive is formed from the genitive singular + -ta: suhkur → suhkru → suhkruta, mantel → mantli → mantlita, sina → sinu → sinuta. In the plural it is -deta/-teta: lasteta (without children).
It shows that a companion, a thing, a tool or a quality is missing: Ta tuli ilma mantlita. (He came without a coat.) kooreta kohv (coffee without cream). The word ilma can go before the noun, but the noun still takes -ta. Do not use the partitive after ilma.
An adjective before the noun stays in the genitive: ilma sooja mantlita (without a warm coat). To say "without doing something", use the -mata form of a verb: Ta lahkus head aega ütlemata. (She left without saying goodbye.)
For a permanent lack that describes a type, Estonian prefers the adjective suffix -tu: sabata ahv is a monkey that has lost its tail, while sabatu ahv is a tailless kind of monkey.
Examples (5)
- Ma joon kohvi suhkruta.
I drink coffee without sugar.
Word by Word: I drink coffee sugar-without
Suhkur → suhkru → suhkruta.
- Ta tuli ilma mantlita.
He came without a coat.
Ilma is optional, but the noun still ends in -ta.
- Ilma sinuta on igav.
It is boring without you.
Pronouns take -ta on their genitive form: sinu → sinuta.
- Üks kohv ilma piimata, palun.
One coffee without milk, please.
Piim → piima → piimata. Ilma before it is optional.
- Nad sõitsid puhkusele ilma lasteta.
They went on vacation without the children.
Plural abessive: lapsed → laste → lasteta.
Common Mistakes
Using the partitive after ilma.
Ma joon kohvi ilma suhkrut.Ma joon kohvi ilma suhkruta.Ilma does not take the partitive. The noun must be in the abessive, which ends in -ta.
Putting -ta on the adjective too.
Ta tuli ilma soojata mantlita.Ta tuli ilma sooja mantlita.In the abessive, only the noun takes -ta. The adjective before it stays in the genitive.
Using a verb infinitive after ilma.
Ta lahkus ilma ütlema head aega.Ta lahkus head aega ütlemata.For "without doing", Estonian uses the -mata form of the verb, with or without ilma before it.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The abessive is one of the last four cases, like -ga.
Related Patterns
- Genitive (Owner Form)
The abessive is built on the genitive stem.
Level 1 - Adjectives with -ni, -na, -ta, -ga
Adjectives stay in the genitive before a noun in -ta.
Level 3 - -mata FormWithout Doing (-mata)
The -mata verb form says "without doing".
Level 3 - Adjectives with -tuWithout Something (-tu)
The suffix -tu describes a permanent lack.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Abessive (-ta) in Bubblegum
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