ükski
Not a Single One (Ükski)
Ükski buss ei läinud means Not a single bus went. Mul pole ühtki raamatut means I do not have a single book.
How It Works
ükski is made of üks (one) and the particle -ki. It is used in two places:
- Negative sentences: not a single one, no. The verb is negative: Ükski buss ei läinud. Ükski pood ei olnud pühapäeval lahti. For extra emphasis, add mitte: Mitte ükski ei puudunud.
- Questions: any, even one: Kas ükski neist meeldis sulle?
Case forms. The particle is always added after the case ending: ükski, ühegi, ühtki (also ühtegi), ühelegi, ühestki, ühelgi. After a negative verb, an object or the thing you do not have is in the partitive: Mul pole ühtki raamatut. Other cases keep their own ending: Ma ei leidnud ühestki poest piima. Forms like ühegile are colloquial.
ükski has no plural, and the noun with it stays singular: ükski buss. For people in general, keegi ei (nobody) is more common, while ükski picks out one member of a group: ükski neist.
Examples (6)
- Ükski buss ei läinud.
Not a single bus went.
- Kas ükski neist meeldis sulle?
Did you like any of them?
- Mul pole mitte ühtki raamatut.
I do not have a single book.
mitte adds emphasis; ühtki is the partitive.
- Ma ei leidnud ühestki poest piima.
I could not find milk in any shop.
ühestki is the elative.
- Ta ei rääkinud sellest ühelegi sõbrale.
He did not tell a single friend about it.
ühelegi is the allative.
- Ükski pood ei olnud pühapäeval lahti.
Not one shop was open on Sunday.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the negative verb.
Ükski buss läks.Ükski buss ei läinud.In a statement, ükski needs a negative verb. It means not a single one only together with ei or pole.
Using the nominative after a negative verb.
Mul pole ükski raamat.Mul pole ühtki raamatut.After pole, the thing you do not have goes in the partitive: ühtki raamatut.
Using a plural noun with ükski.
Ükski bussid ei läinud.Ükski buss ei läinud.ükski has no plural, and the noun that goes with it stays singular.
How It Connects
Learn This First
ükski appears with negation, like keegi ei.
Related Patterns
- -gi/-kiToo and Even (-gi/-ki)
ükski is built from üks and the particle -ki.
Level 3 - Partitive After Negation
After a negative verb, the thing you do not have is in the partitive: ühtki raamatut.
Level 1 - mitteNegating a Word (Mitte)
mitte ükski is the emphatic form.
Level 3 - kumb / mõlemad / kumbkiWhich of Two and Both
kumbki ei is the version for exactly two.
Level 3 - Strong Negation (üldse, sugugi)Strong Negation
Other ways to make a negative stronger.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice ükski in Bubblegum
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