Allative (-le)
The allative (alaleütlev) adds -le and means "onto" or "to": Pane raamat lauale (Put the book on the table).
How It Works
1. Form
Add -le to the genitive stem:
- laud → laua → lauale (onto the table)
- ema → emale (to Mom)
- töö → tööle (to work)
- turg → turu → turule (to the market)
Pronouns have short forms with a double l: mulle (minule), sulle (sinule), talle (temale); and meile, teile, neile. See pronoun cases.
2. Uses
- Onto a surface: Pane raamat lauale.
- To an -l place: Ta läks tööle. Me läheme turule.
- To a person, as the receiver: Ma annan sulle raha. Kirjuta mulle! See the allative for recipients.
- Calling someone: Helista emale! The person you call takes -le.
- The one who likes: Mulle meeldib kohv. See meeldima.
3. -le or -sse?
Both mean "to". Use -le for surfaces, people and places that take -l; use the illative for going inside: tööle but kooli. The allative belongs with the adessive (-l) and the ablative (-lt).
Examples (6)
- Pane raamat lauale.
Put the book on the table.
Word by Word: Put book onto-table.
- Ma annan sulle raha.
I will give you money.
Word by Word: I give to-you money.
sulle is the short form of sinule.
- Helista emale!
Call Mom!
Word by Word: Call to-mother!
helistama marks the person you call with -le.
- Me läheme turule.
We are going to the market.
Word by Word: We go onto-market.
- Ta läks tööle.
He went to work.
Word by Word: He went onto-work.
- Kirjuta mulle!
Write to me!
Word by Word: Write to-me!
Common Mistakes
Using the basic pronoun for the receiver.
Ma annan sina raha.Ma annan sulle raha.The person who receives something takes the allative: sulle (sinule).
Leaving the person you call without an ending.
Helista ema!Helista emale!helistama needs the allative for the person you call: emale.
Using the illative for "onto" a surface.
Pane raamat lauasse.Pane raamat lauale.lauasse would mean into the table. Onto the table is lauale.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The allative is the to-member of the outer set.
Related Patterns
- To Whom (Allative)
A closer look at -le for the person who receives.
Level 2 - Ablative (-lt)
The "off, from" partner of the allative.
Level 1 - Illative (-sse)
The inner "into" case, to contrast with -le.
Level 1 - meeldimaLiking (Mulle Meeldib)
The one who likes something is in the allative: Mulle meeldib.
Level 1 - Pronouns in Other Cases
The short pronoun forms mulle, sulle, talle.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Allative (-le) in Bubblegum
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