selle asemel, et

Instead of Doing (Selle Asemel, Et)

Level 4

Selle asemel, et kurta, tee midagi means instead of complaining, do something. The replaced action goes in the da-infinitive.

How It Works

selle asemel, et names an action that is replaced by another one. It is built from selle asemel (instead of that; see asemel) and et.

Same doer: da-infinitive. When the person in both parts is the same, the replaced action is in the da-infinitive:

  • Ta vaatas telerit, selle asemel et õppida. (He watched TV instead of studying.)
  • Me läksime jala, selle asemel et bussi oodata. (We walked instead of waiting for the bus.)

Different doer: full clause. When someone else would do the action, use a full clause. The conditional is common, because the action is only imagined: Selle asemel, et Mari kõik üksi teeks, aitame teda kõik. (Instead of Mari doing everything alone, we will all help her.)

With a noun. To say instead of a thing, drop et and put the noun in the genitive before asemel: kohvi asemel (instead of coffee). A -mine noun also works: Kurtmise asemel tee midagi.

Commas. The et part is a subordinate clause, so it is separated by a comma. In the middle of a sentence, the comma usually goes before the whole link; placing it between the parts stresses the contrast: Ta vaatas telerit, selle asemel et õppida ~ Ta vaatas telerit selle asemel, et õppida. When the link starts the sentence, a comma between the parts is optional.

Examples (6)

  1. Selle asemel, et kurta, tee midagi.

    Instead of complaining, do something.

    Word by Word: that-GEN instead that complain-DA, do something

  2. Ta vaatas telerit, selle asemel et õppida.

    He watched TV instead of studying.

  3. Me läksime jala, selle asemel et bussi oodata.

    We walked instead of waiting for the bus.

  4. Selle asemel et raha säästa, ostis ta uue auto.

    Instead of saving money, she bought a new car.

    At the start of a sentence, the comma between selle asemel and et can be left out.

  5. Selle asemel, et Mari kõik üksi teeks, aitame teda kõik.

    Instead of Mari doing everything alone, we will all help her.

    A different doer, so a full clause with the conditional teeks.

  6. Kurtmise asemel tee midagi.

    Instead of complaining, do something.

    The same idea with the -mine noun kurtmine in the genitive.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the ma-infinitive after et.

    Selle asemel, et kurtma, tee midagi.
    Selle asemel, et kurta, tee midagi.

    After et, as in purpose clauses, the verb takes the da-infinitive: kurta, not kurtma.

  • Using selle asemel, et before a plain noun.

    Selle asemel, et kohv, joon ma teed.
    Kohvi asemel joon ma teed.

    selle asemel, et needs an action. For a thing, put the noun in the genitive before asemel: kohvi asemel.

How It Connects

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selle asemel, etLevel 4Instead of Doing (Selle Asemel, Et)

Learn This First

selle asemel, et is the clause form of asemel.

Words in This Pattern

asemeletsee