Grammar in Proverbs

Level 5

Kes ees, see mees means "whoever is in front is the winner". Both halves have lost their verb, and the rhyme holds them together.

How It Works

Proverbs are fixed sayings, so you learn them as they are. Knowing their grammar helps you understand them.

  • kes ..., see ... with olema left out: Kes ees, see mees = Kes on ees, see on mees (First come, first served). With the verb kept: Kes kannatab, see kaua elab.
  • kus ..., seal ... with the partitive of an existential sentence: Kus suitsu, seal tuld = Kus on suitsu, seal on tuld (Where there's smoke, there's fire).
  • mis ..., see ... with a -tud form: Mis täna tehtud, see homme hooleta = Mis on täna tehtud, see on homme hooleta. Hooleta is the abessive: without worry.
  • Two clauses side by side instead of kui ... siis: Tasa sõuad, kaugele jõuad = Kui tasa sõuad, siis kaugele jõuad (Slow and steady wins the race). The "you" is anyone.
  • A comparison without a verb: Parem varblane peos kui tuvi katusel = A sparrow in the hand is better than a dove on the roof.

Outside proverbs, headlines and set phrases, a normal sentence keeps its verb: Minu vend on arst.

Examples (6)

  1. Kes ees, see mees.

    First come, first served.

    Word by Word: who in.front, that man

  2. Tasa sõuad, kaugele jõuad.

    Slow and steady wins the race.

    Word by Word: slowly (you) row, far (you) reach

    Two clauses side by side mean "if you row slowly, you get far".

  3. Kus suitsu, seal tuld.

    Where there's smoke, there's fire.

    Word by Word: where smoke(PART), there fire(PART)

    The partitive shows that these are existential sentences with on left out.

  4. Mis täna tehtud, see homme hooleta.

    What's done today won't worry you tomorrow.

    Word by Word: what today done, that tomorrow worry-without

  5. Parem varblane peos kui tuvi katusel.

    A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

    Word by Word: better sparrow palm-in than dove roof-on

  6. Hommik on õhtust targem.

    Sleep on it.

    Word by Word: morning is evening-from wiser

    Here the verb stays. The elative õhtust marks what is compared.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out olema in an ordinary sentence.

    Minu vend arst.
    Minu vend on arst.

    Intended meaning: my brother is a doctor. Proverbs and headlines can drop on, but an ordinary sentence needs it.

How It Connects

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Grammar in ProverbsLevel 5

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Proverbs use compressed grammar.

Words in This Pattern

kesseekusseal