Basic Word Order

Level 1

Mari (subject) loeb (verb) raamatut (object). “Mari is reading a book.”

How It Works

The neutral order
Mari loeb raamatut. (Mari is reading a book.) Ma räägin eesti keelt. (I speak Estonian.)

Why other orders are possible
The ending shows the role of each word: raamatut is the object wherever it stands. So Raamatut loeb Mari. is still correct. It moves Mari to the end, where new information goes: “It is Mari who is reading the book.” See word order for emphasis.

The verb comes second
If you start with a time or place word, the subject moves after the verb: Täna läheb Jaan tööle. (Today Jaan is going to work.) See verb second after a fronted word. In a neutral statement, adverbs such as täna, kohe and alati usually go after the verb: Ma sõidan homme Tartusse.

Sentences that start with a place or an owner

  • there is: place – verb – thing: Laual on kaks tassi. See existential clause.
  • having: owner – verb – thing: Mul on koer. See mul on.

Questions and negation
kas or a question word comes first: Kas sa räägid eesti keelt? Kus sa elad? The word ei goes straight before the verb: Ma ei tea.

Inside a noun phrase
Describing words come before the noun: Mari uus auto (Mari's new car), kaks suurt koera (two big dogs).

Good to know
With a short pronoun subject, speakers also say Homme ma tulen. (Tomorrow I'm coming.) This is common and correct, but Homme tulen ma. or Homme tulen. is the safest choice in writing.

Examples (6)

  1. Mari loeb raamatut.

    Mari is reading a book.

    Word by Word: Mari reads book(PART)

  2. Raamatut loeb Mari.

    It's Mari who is reading the book.

    Word by Word: book(PART) reads Mari

    The object comes first, so the subject Mari ends up at the end, where the new information is.

  3. Täna läheb Jaan tööle.

    Jaan is going to work today.

    Word by Word: today goes Jaan to-work

    After the time word, the verb stays second and the subject follows it.

  4. Laual on kaks tassi.

    There are two cups on the table.

    Word by Word: on-table is two cup(PART)

  5. Kas sa räägid eesti keelt?

    Do you speak Estonian?

    Word by Word: Q you speak Estonian language(PART)

  6. Ma sõidan homme Tartusse.

    I'm going to Tartu tomorrow.

    Word by Word: I travel tomorrow to-Tartu

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the owner after the thing owned.

    See on auto Mari.
    See on Mari auto.

    The owner comes first, just like in English Mari's car: Mari auto.

  • Putting the adjective after the noun.

    Mul on kaks koera suurt.
    Mul on kaks suurt koera.

    Numbers and adjectives come before the noun they describe: kaks suurt koera.

How It Connects

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Basic Word OrderLevel 1

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Word order is taught with simple present-tense sentences.

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Patterns that build on this one.