Partitive Object

Level 2

The partitive is the most common case for an object. Use it when the action is ongoing, negated, or affects only some of something: Ma loen raamatut. (I'm reading a book.) Ma ei osta raamatut. (I'm not buying the book.) Ma söön leiba. (I'm eating bread.)

How It Works

Use the partitive when any one of these is true

  1. The sentence is negative. Ma ei söönud võileiba. (I didn't eat the sandwich.) See partitive after negation.
  2. The action is ongoing or has no result. Isa parandas autot terve päeva. (Dad was repairing the car all day.)
  3. Only some of something is meant. Ta joob kohvi. (He's drinking coffee.) See partitive for some amount.
  4. The verb always takes the partitive. Ma armastan sind. (I love you.) See verbs that always take the partitive.

One verb, two meanings

  • Ma loen raamatut. (I'm reading a book.) – Ma loen raamatu läbi. (I'll read the book through.)
  • Ma teen kodutööd. (I'm doing my homework.) – Ma teen kodutöö ära. (I'll get my homework done.)
  • Isa parandas autot. (Dad was repairing the car.) – Isa parandas auto ära. (Dad fixed the car.)

Tip
Ask yourself whether the action reached its end and affected the whole object. If the answer is no, or you do not know, use the partitive.

Examples (6)

  1. Ma loen raamatut.

    I'm reading a book.

    Word by Word: I read book(PART)

    The reading is still going on, so the object is partitive.

  2. Ma ei osta seda autot.

    I'm not buying this car.

    Word by Word: I not buy this(PART) car(PART)

  3. Ma söön leiba.

    I'm eating bread.

    Word by Word: I eat bread(PART)

  4. Ta joob kohvi.

    He's drinking coffee.

    Word by Word: he drinks coffee(PART)

  5. Isa parandas autot terve päeva.

    Dad was repairing the car all day.

    Word by Word: dad repaired car(PART) whole day

    The sentence tells us how long the work took, not that the car got fixed.

  6. Me õpime eesti keelt.

    We are learning Estonian.

    Word by Word: we learn Estonian language(PART)

Common Mistakes

  • Using the genitive for an action that is still going on.

    Ma loen praegu raamatu.
    Ma loen praegu raamatut.

    praegu (right now) describes an ongoing action, and an ongoing action takes a partitive object. Ma loen raamatu would mean that you will read the whole book to the end.

  • Using the genitive after ei.

    Ma ei söönud võileiva.
    Ma ei söönud võileiba.

    A negative sentence always takes a partitive object.

  • Leaving a substance in the basic form.

    Ma joon iga päev piim.
    Ma joon iga päev piima.

    An open amount of a substance such as milk, water or bread is partitive: piima, vett, leiba.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Partitive ObjectLevel 2

Learn This First

The object is partitive in negated and unfinished actions.