Not Yet Done (-mata)
Lugemata raamat means an unread book. The -mata form before a noun says the action has not happened yet.
How It Works
Take the ma-infinitive, drop -ma and add -mata: lugema → lugemata, pesema → pesemata, maksma → maksmata, tegema → tegemata. Put this form before a noun and it describes something that has not been done.
- loetud raamat (a read book) ↔ lugemata raamat (an unread book)
- pestud nõud (washed dishes) ↔ pesemata nõud (unwashed dishes)
- makstud arve (a paid bill) ↔ maksmata arve (an unpaid bill)
The -mata form never takes a case or plural ending. Only the noun changes: maksmata arve, kaks maksmata arvet, maksmata arvetega.
The same form can also stand after olema: Raamat on veel lugemata. (The book has not been read yet.) The word veel (yet) often goes with it.
Do not mix it up with adjectives in -matu. They look similar but mean something that cannot be done or has no limit: lugematu means countless, not unread.
Examples (6)
- Mul on riiulis palju lugemata raamatuid.
I have lots of unread books on my shelf.
Word by Word: I-at is shelf-in many unread books
Raamatuid is plural partitive, but lugemata stays the same.
- Köögis ootavad pesemata nõud.
Unwashed dishes are waiting in the kitchen.
Pesema → pesemata.
- Mul on kaks maksmata arvet.
I have two unpaid bills.
After kaks the noun is in the partitive singular; maksmata does not change.
- Ärge jooge keetmata vett!
Don't drink unboiled water!
Keetma → keetmata: water that has not been boiled.
- Ta tuli tööle triikimata särgiga.
He came to work in an unironed shirt.
The noun takes -ga, but triikimata keeps its form.
- Kõik tegemata tööd jäid esmaspäevaks.
All the unfinished tasks were left for Monday.
Tegemata töö is work that has not been done.
Common Mistakes
Adding case or plural endings to the -mata form.
Köögis ootavad pesematad nõud.Köögis ootavad pesemata nõud.The -mata form is fixed. Only the noun shows plural and case: pesemata nõud, pesemata nõusid, pesemata nõudega.
Using a -matu adjective to mean not done.
Mul on riiulis palju lugematuid raamatuid.Mul on riiulis palju lugemata raamatuid.Lugematu means countless, so the first sentence says the books are too many to count. For books you have not read, use lugemata.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The -mata form works before a noun.
Related Patterns
- -tud Form
The -tud form is the positive partner: loetud raamat and lugemata raamat.
Level 3 - jätma + -mataLeaving Undone (Jätma + -mata)
Jätma with the -mata form says that someone left a task undone.
Level 4 - Adjectives with -matu
Look-alike adjectives that mean un-...-able or endless, such as lugematu (countless).
Level 4 - Participle Phrases Instead of Clauses
Other participles that stand before a noun to describe it.
Level 4 - ma-InfinitiveThe Ma-Infinitive (Dictionary Form)
The -mata form is built on the same stem as the -ma form.
Level 1
Practice Not Yet Done (-mata) in Bubblegum
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