asemel / kohta
Instead of and About
Tee asemel means instead of tea, and hinna kohta means about the price. Both words follow a noun in the genitive.
How It Works
Both words come after a noun in the genitive, like other postpositions.
asemel – instead of, in place of
- Ma joon hommikuti tee asemel kohvi. (I drink coffee instead of tea in the mornings.)
- Mine täna minu asemel. (Go instead of me today.)
- Mis sa teeksid minu asemel? (What would you do in my place?)
Like other place words, it has a to form: asemele. Kes tuleb tema asemele? (Who will take his place?) Before a whole action, use selle asemel, et.
kohta – about, per, for
- about: Mul on küsimus hinna kohta. (I have a question about the price.) Ta kirjutab raamatut Eesti ajaloo kohta.
- per: Pilet maksab kaks eurot inimese kohta. (The ticket costs two euros per person.)
- for, considering: Oma vanuse kohta on ta väga krapsakas. (For his age, he is very lively.)
For about, the elative is often shorter and more everyday: Me rääkisime filmist. kohta is common in questions, notices and writing.
Examples (6)
- Ma joon hommikuti tee asemel kohvi.
I drink coffee instead of tea in the mornings.
Word by Word: I drink mornings tea-GEN instead coffee-PART
- Mine täna minu asemel.
Go instead of me today.
- Kes tuleb tema asemele?
Who will take his place?
asemele is the to form: moving into someone's place.
- Mul on küsimus hinna kohta.
I have a question about the price.
- Pilet maksab kaks eurot inimese kohta.
The ticket costs two euros per person.
kohta gives a rate: per person.
- Oma vanuse kohta on ta väga krapsakas.
For his age, he is very lively.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the noun in the nominative before asemel.
Ma joon piim asemel vett.Ma joon piima asemel vett.asemel follows the genitive: piim becomes piima.
Using the elative before kohta.
Mul on küsimus hinnast kohta.Mul on küsimus hinna kohta.kohta needs the genitive, hinna. The elative hinnast is used on its own, without kohta: Me rääkisime hinnast.
How It Connects
Learn This First
asemel and kohta follow a genitive.
Related Patterns
- Genitive (Owner Form)
The case before both words.
Level 1 - selle asemel, etInstead of Doing (Selle Asemel, Et)
The link for instead of doing something.
Level 4 - Talking About (Elative)
The elative is the everyday alternative to kohta for about.
Level 2 - Where To, Where and Where From
asemel and asemele work like other to/at place words.
Level 2 - Conditional (-ksi-)
Minu asemel often goes with the conditional: Mis sa teeksid minu asemel?
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice asemel / kohta in Bubblegum
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