Counting Takes the Partitive

Level 1

üks raamat (one book) but kaks raamatut, viis raamatut, kakskümmend raamatut. The noun stays singular.

How It Works

The basic rule
After a number in the nominative, use the singular partitive:

  • kaks kassi (two cats)
  • viis eurot (five euros)
  • kümme minutit (ten minutes)
  • kakskümmend üks aastat (twenty-one years)

The noun does not go into the plural here, even though you are talking about several things. The only exception is a noun that exists only in the plural, such as püksid (trousers): then the number is plural too, kahed püksid. The partitive form of each word must be learned: see partitive singular endings.

Adjectives follow the noun
An adjective before the noun is partitive too: kolm suurt tassi (three big cups), kaks head sõpra (two good friends).

üks is different
üks behaves like an adjective and simply agrees with its noun: üks suur tass. When a whole single thing is the object of a finished action, both go into the genitive: Ma ostsin ühe pileti. (I bought one ticket.) Other numbers stay nominative as objects: Ma ostsin kaks piletit.

Other amount words work the same way
mitu (how many, several) and paar (a couple) also take the singular partitive: mitu korda, paar päeva. See kui palju and mitu.

When the number itself has an ending
If the number is in another case, the noun takes the same case instead: kahes linnas (in two towns), kolme lapsega (with three children). See numbers in cases.

Good to know
With a number phrase as the subject, the verb can be plural or singular: Kolm meest lükkavad paati. ~ Kolm meest lükkab paati. (Three men are pushing the boat.) The plural is more usual when the phrase starts the sentence.

Examples (6)

  1. Mul on kaks kassi.

    I have two cats.

    Word by Word: to-me is two cat(PART)

  2. Ma ostsin viis õuna ja ühe leiva.

    I bought five apples and a loaf of bread.

    Word by Word: I bought five apple(PART) and one(GEN) bread(GEN)

    viis takes the partitive õuna; the single whole loaf is a genitive object, ühe leiva.

  3. Laual on kolm suurt tassi.

    There are three big cups on the table.

    Word by Word: on-table is three big(PART) cup(PART)

    The adjective suur is partitive too: suurt.

  4. Film kestab kaks tundi.

    The film lasts two hours.

    Word by Word: film lasts two hour(PART)

  5. Meie peres on üks laps.

    There is one child in our family.

    Word by Word: our family(INE) is one child

    With üks the noun stays in the nominative.

  6. Ta elas Tartus kaks aastat.

    She lived in Tartu for two years.

    Word by Word: she lived in-Tartu two year(PART)

Common Mistakes

  • Using the plural after a number.

    Mul on kaks lapsed.
    Mul on kaks last.

    After a number the noun is singular partitive. lapsed is plural nominative, which cannot follow kaks.

  • Leaving the adjective in the nominative.

    Tänaval on kolm suur maja.
    Tänaval on kolm suurt maja.

    The adjective takes the same singular partitive as the noun: suurt maja.

  • Putting the partitive after üks.

    Mul on üks õuna.
    Mul on üks õun.

    üks is the only number that keeps its noun in the nominative.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Counting Takes the PartitiveLevel 1

Learn This First

Counting combines numbers with the partitive.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

üks