Participle Phrases Instead of Clauses
Tallinnas elav sõber means a friend who lives in Tallinn. The whole phrase comes before the noun, with the participle last.
How It Works
Estonian can put a whole descriptive phrase before a noun, where English would use a relative clause after it.
- sõber, kes elab Tallinnas = Tallinnas elav sõber (a friend who lives in Tallinn)
- leib, mis osteti eile = eile ostetud leib (bread bought yesterday)
Which participle?
- -v: the noun does it now: Tallinnas elav sõber, kõigile meeldiv film (a film everyone likes)
- -tav: it is being done to the noun, or can be: poes müüdavad maasikad (strawberries sold in the shop)
- -nud: the noun did it: hilja saabunud külalised (guests who arrived late)
- -tud: it was done to the noun: eile ostetud leib
Word order. Everything that belongs to the participle goes before it, and the participle comes right before the noun: Tallinnas elav sõber, not sõber elav Tallinnas.
Agreement. The -v and -tav participles change case and number like adjectives: Tallinnas elava sõbraga, poes müüdavaid maasikaid. The -nud and -tud participles never change before a noun: eile ostetud leivaga, hilja saabunud külalistele.
Style. Short phrases like these are common everywhere. Very long ones sound formal, so in speech a relative clause with kes or mis is often clearer.
Examples (6)
- Mul on Tallinnas elav sõber.
I have a friend who lives in Tallinn.
Word by Word: at-me is in-Tallinn living friend
elav is the -v participle of elama.
- Eile ostetud leib on juba kõva.
The bread bought yesterday is already hard.
ostetud is the -tud participle of ostma.
- See on kõigile meeldiv film.
It's a film that everyone likes.
meeldiv keeps the allative kõigile of meeldima.
- Hilja saabunud külalised pidid seisma.
The guests who arrived late had to stand.
saabunud is the -nud participle: they did the arriving.
- Ma kohtusin Tallinnas elava sõbraga.
I met a friend who lives in Tallinn.
The -v participle agrees: elava sõbraga.
- Poes müüdavad maasikad on pärit Hispaaniast.
The strawberries sold in the shop come from Spain.
müüdav is the -tav participle; it takes the plural -d.
Common Mistakes
Not making a -v participle agree with the noun.
Ma kohtusin Tallinnas elav sõbraga.Ma kohtusin Tallinnas elava sõbraga.The -v participle declines like an adjective: elava sõbraga, like hea sõbraga.
Putting the phrase after the noun.
Mul on sõber elav Tallinnas.Mul on Tallinnas elav sõber.A participle phrase goes before the noun, with the participle last. After the noun, use a relative clause: sõber, kes elab Tallinnas.
Using the -nud form for something that was done.
Eile ostnud leib on kõva.Eile ostetud leib on kõva.ostnud means that bought something. For bread that was bought, use the -tud form ostetud.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Participle phrases replace relative clauses.
- Participle of Possibility (-tav)
Distinguish present passive -tav phrases from the previously learned active -v phrases.
Level 4 - -nud Form as an Adjective
-nud forms also start phrases.
Level 4 - -tud Form
Recognize past passive forms such as ostetud when they replace relative clauses.
Level 3 - Relative Clause with mis
The phrase replaces a relative clause.
Level 3
Related Patterns
- Present Participle (-v)
The participle for someone who does something now.
Level 4 - Genitive Agent + -tud ParticipleDone by Someone (Ema Küpsetatud)
A -tud phrase can also name its doer: ema küpsetatud kook.
Level 4 - Relative Clause with kes
The clause that a participle phrase can replace.
Level 3 - Compressed News Sentences
Longer participle phrases typical of news writing.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Participle Phrases Instead of Clauses in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Estonian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
