How Long (nädal aega)

Level 3

nädal aega and kaks nädalat answer how long. nädalaks answers for how long, as a plan.

How It Works

  • How long (kui kaua?): a number + partitive: kaks aastat, viis minutit. A single unit usually adds aega (partitive of aeg, time): tund aega (an hour), nädal aega (a week), kuu aega (a month), aasta aega (a year).
  • For how long, as a plan (kui kauaks?): the translative: Ma tulen kolmeks päevaks. Ta laenas raamatu nädalaks.
  • Up to now: Estonian uses the present tense with juba where English uses have been: Ma elan siin juba viis aastat.

These time phrases follow the same case rules as objects. After a negative they are usually in the partitive: Ta ei oodanud minutitki.

Keep these apart: nädal aega (for a week), nädalaks (for a planned week), nädala pärast (in a week), nädal tagasi (a week ago) and nädala jooksul (within a week).

Examples (6)

  1. Ma olin seal nädal aega.

    I was there for a week.

    Word by Word: I was there week time-PART

  2. Ta elas Tartus kaks aastat.

    She lived in Tartu for two years.

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

  3. Ma tulen kolmeks päevaks.

    I am coming for three days.

    Word by Word: I come three-into day-into

    A planned length is in the translative.

  4. Ma elan siin juba viis aastat.

    I have lived here for five years.

    Word by Word: I live here already five year-PART

    Estonian uses the present tense for a state that is still going on.

  5. Oota viis minutit!

    Wait five minutes!

    Word by Word: wait five minute-PART

  6. Kui kauaks sa Tallinnasse sõidad? – Nädalaks.

    How long are you going to Tallinn for? – For a week.

    Word by Word: how long-into you Tallinn-into drive – week-into

Common Mistakes

  • Translating English for with jaoks.

    Ma sõidan Pariisi nädala jaoks.
    Ma sõidan Pariisi nädalaks.

    jaoks means for a purpose or a person. A planned length of time is in the translative.

  • Using a plural after the number.

    Ma elan siin kaks aastaid.
    Ma elan siin kaks aastat.

    After a nominative number the noun is in the partitive singular.

  • Leaving aeg in the nominative.

    Ma olin seal nädal aeg.
    Ma olin seal nädal aega.

    In nädal aega the word aeg is in the partitive, just like the noun after a number.

How It Connects

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

How Long (nädal aega)Level 3

Learn This First

Durations use the nominative plus aega or a counted partitive.

Words in This Pattern

nädalaeg