et mitte
In Order Not to (Et Mitte)
Kirjutasin selle üles, et mitte unustada means I wrote it down so as not to forget. Et mitte gives a reason to avoid something.
How It Works
The pattern is et mitte + da-infinitive, with a comma before et:
- Rääkisin vaikselt, et mitte last äratada. (I spoke quietly so as not to wake the child.)
- Kirjutasin selle üles, et mitte unustada. (I wrote it down so as not to forget.)
Why mitte and not ei? Ei goes with a verb that has a person, like ei ärka. An infinitive has no person, so it is negated with mitte. You may also put mitte right before the infinitive: et last mitte äratada.
The infinitive shares the subject of the main verb. If someone else should avoid the action, use a full clause with ei and the conditional: Rääkisin vaikselt, et laps ei ärkaks. (I spoke quietly so that the child would not wake up.)
A fuller form is selleks, et mitte. When the purpose comes first, the main verb follows it: Et mitte eksida, võtsime kaardi kaasa.
Examples (6)
- Rääkisin vaikselt, et mitte last äratada.
I spoke quietly so as not to wake the child.
Word by Word: I-spoke quietly that not child to-wake
- Ta rääkis sosinal, et mitte häirida teisi.
He spoke in a whisper so as not to disturb the others.
The object may also come after the infinitive: et mitte häirida teisi.
- Kirjutasin selle üles, et mitte unustada.
I wrote it down so as not to forget.
- Lahkusime varakult, et mitte rongist maha jääda.
We left early so as not to miss the train.
Rongist maha jääma means to miss the train.
- Et mitte eksida, võtsime kaardi kaasa.
So as not to get lost, we took a map with us.
When the purpose comes first, the main verb follows it.
- Rääkisin vaikselt, et laps ei ärkaks.
I spoke quietly so that the child would not wake up.
A different subject, laps, needs a full clause with ei and the conditional.
Common Mistakes
Negating the infinitive with ei.
Rääkisin vaikselt, et ei äratada last.Rääkisin vaikselt, et mitte last äratada.Ei needs a verb with a person. The da-infinitive has no person, so use mitte.
Using the ma-infinitive after et mitte.
Kirjutasin selle üles, et mitte unustama.Kirjutasin selle üles, et mitte unustada.A purpose with et always uses the da-infinitive.
Using an infinitive when the subject changes.
Rääkisin vaikselt, et laps mitte ärgata.Rääkisin vaikselt, et laps ei ärkaks.The infinitive must share the main subject. With a new subject, write a full clause with ei and the conditional.
How It Connects
Learn This First
et mitte negates a purpose clause.
Related Patterns
- da-InfinitiveThe Da-Infinitive
Et mitte is always followed by the da-infinitive.
Level 1 - et + ConditionalAsking Someone to (Et + Conditional)
With a different subject, a purpose clause uses et ... ei plus the conditional.
Level 4 - -maks FormIn Order to (-maks)
A formal written way to express purpose without et.
Level 4 - selle asemel, etInstead of Doing (Selle Asemel, Et)
Another et pattern with the da-infinitive: instead of doing.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice et mitte in Bubblegum
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