-nud Form as an Adjective
Väsinud inimene is a tired person, someone who has become tired. The -nud form describes what the noun itself went through.
How It Works
You know -nud from the perfect and the negative past: olen tulnud, ei tulnud. The same form can also stand before a noun and describe it, like an adjective:
- väsinud inimene – a tired person (väsima, to get tired)
- kadunud koer – a lost dog (kaduma, to disappear)
- kuivanud lilled – dried flowers (kuivama, to dry)
- kogenud õpetaja – an experienced teacher (kogema, to experience)
- möödunud nädal, läinud aasta – last week, last year
-nud or -tud? The -nud form describes the noun as the one that did or went through the action: väsinud laps (the child got tired). The -tud form describes the noun as the thing someone else acted on: parandatud auto (someone repaired the car).
It does not change before a noun. A normal adjective agrees with its noun, but a -nud form in front of the noun stays the same:
- väsinud laps → väsinud lapsele → väsinud lastega
It can also follow olema: Ma olen väsinud. Lilled on kuivanud.
Longer phrases. The -nud form can bring its own words: eelmisel aastal lõppenud projekt (a project that ended last year), hiljaks jäänud õpilased (students who came late).
Used as a noun. When a -nud word stands alone as a noun, it does take endings, on the stem -nu-: täiskasvanu (an adult), täiskasvanutele (for adults).
Examples (6)
- Ma olen täna väga väsinud.
I am very tired today.
- Väsinud lapsed jäid kohe magama.
The tired children fell asleep right away.
- Ema andis väsinud lastele süüa.
Mother gave the tired children something to eat.
Väsinud stays the same while lastele takes the allative ending.
- Eelmisel aastal lõppenud projekt oli väga edukas.
The project that ended last year was very successful.
Lõppenud carries its own time phrase, eelmisel aastal.
- Möödunud nädalal sadas palju lund.
Last week it snowed a lot.
Möödunud nädal means last week. Möödunud itself does not change.
- Kadunud koer leiti kolme päeva pärast üles.
The lost dog was found three days later.
Common Mistakes
Adding case endings to -nud before a noun.
Ema andis väsinutele lastele süüa.Ema andis väsinud lastele süüa.Before a noun, the -nud form never changes. Only the noun takes the ending.
Using -nud for something another person acted on.
Ma ostsin parandanud auto.Ma ostsin parandatud auto.The car did not repair anything. Someone repaired it, so use the -tud form.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The -nud form also works as an adjective.
Related Patterns
- -tud Form
The -tud form describes a noun that someone else acted on: parandatud auto.
Level 3 - Participle Phrases Instead of Clauses
A -nud form with its own words can replace a relative clause.
Level 4 - Present Participle (-v)
The -v form describes an ongoing action and, unlike -nud, agrees with its noun.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice -nud Form as an Adjective in Bubblegum
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