Perfect Tense

Level 2

Olen, oled, on, oleme, olete, on + -nud forms the perfect: ma olen teinud (I have done).

How It Works

The perfect (täisminevik) combines olema in the present with the -nud form:

ma olen teinud, sa oled teinud, ta on teinud, me oleme teinud, te olete teinud, nad on teinud

Use it when a past event matters from the point of view of now:

  • Experience: Ma olen Eestis käinud. (I have been to Estonia.)
  • A result that matters now: Kas sa oled juba söönud? (Have you already eaten?)
  • A state lasting until now: Ta on siin viis aastat elanud. (She has lived here for five years.)

For a story of events in order, use the simple past: Eile käisin Tartus. Estonian is less strict than English about time words, though: biographies say Ta on sündinud 1985. aastal. (He was born in 1985.) The negative is ma ei ole teinud or ma pole teinud.

Examples (5)

  1. Ma olen Eestis käinud.

    I have been to Estonia.

    Word by Word: I am in-Estonia visited

    Käima in the perfect expresses an experience.

  2. Kas sa oled juba söönud?

    Have you already eaten?

    The result matters now.

  3. Ta on siin viis aastat elanud.

    She has lived here for five years.

    The state has lasted until now.

  4. Oh, te olete uue auto ostnud!

    Oh, you have bought a new car!

    The new car is the present result.

  5. Nad on juba ära läinud.

    They have already left.

    Nad takes on, the same form as ta.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the simple past after olen.

    Ma olen sõin.
    Ma olen söönud.

    The perfect needs the -nud form after olema: söönud, not the past form sõin.

  • Not changing olema for the person.

    Ma on käinud Tartus.
    Ma olen käinud Tartus.

    Olema changes for the person: ma olen, sa oled, ta on.

How It Connects

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Perfect TenseLevel 2

Learn This First

The perfect is olema plus -nud.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

olema-nud