Adessive (-l)

Level 1

The adessive (alalütlev) adds -l and means "on" or "at": Raamat on laual (The book is on the table).

How It Works

1. Form
Add -l to the genitive stem:

  • laud → laua → laual (on the table)
  • töö → tööl (at work)
  • diivan → diivani → diivanil (on the sofa)
  • ema → emal (the mother has)

Personal pronouns have short forms that you will use all the time: mul (minul), sul (sinul), tal (temal), meil, teil, neil.

2. Uses

  • On a surface: Kass magab diivanil.
  • At some places: Ma olen tööl. Some places take -l instead of -s; see places that take -l.
  • Time: esmaspäeval (on Monday), hommikul (in the morning), suvel (in summer). See days with -l.
  • Owner: Mul on koer. Estonian has no verb "to have"; see mul on.
  • The instrument a piece is played on: Mari mängib klaveril valssi. (Mari is playing a waltz on the piano.) To say just that someone plays an instrument, the instrument is the object: Mari mängib klaverit.

3. On vs in
Raamat on laual means the book is on the table. lauas would mean inside it. The inessive -s is the inside case; see inner and outer local cases. For movement, use the allative -le (onto) or the ablative -lt (off).

Examples (6)

  1. Raamat on laual.

    The book is on the table.

    Word by Word: Book is on-table.

    laud → laua → laual.

  2. Ma olen tööl.

    I am at work.

    Word by Word: I am at-work.

  3. Mul on koer.

    I have a dog.

    Word by Word: At-me is dog.

    mul is the short form of minul.

  4. Esmaspäeval töötan kodus.

    On Monday I work from home.

    Word by Word: On-Monday (I) work at-home.

    Days of the week take the adessive.

  5. Kass magab diivanil.

    The cat is sleeping on the sofa.

    Word by Word: Cat sleeps on-sofa.

  6. Mari mängib klaveril valssi.

    Mari is playing a waltz on the piano.

    Word by Word: Mari plays on-piano waltz-PART.

    The instrument a piece is played on takes the adessive. Without a piece, say Mari mängib klaverit.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the "inside" case for "on".

    Raamat on lauas.
    Raamat on laual.

    lauas means inside the table. On a surface is laual.

  • Using a subject pronoun for the owner.

    Mina on koer.
    Mul on koer.

    To say "I have", put the owner in the adessive: mul (minul) on.

  • Using the inessive with days of the week.

    Ma tulen esmaspäevas.
    Ma tulen esmaspäeval.

    Days of the week take the adessive -l: esmaspäeval, reedel.

How It Connects

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Adessive (-l)Level 1

Learn This First

The adessive is the first outer place case.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.