Plural and Polite Command (-ge/-ke)
Plural and Polite Command
tulla → Tulge! · istuda → Istuge! · vaadata → Vaadake!
How It Works
-ge after most -da and -a infinitives
- tulla → tulge (come)
- istuda → istuge (sit)
- lugeda → lugege (read)
- rääkida → rääkige (speak)
- kirjutada → kirjutage (write)
- olla → olge (be), minna → minge (go)
-ke after -ta
- vaadata → vaadake (look)
- oodata → oodake (wait)
- vastata → vastake (answer)
- osta → ostke (buy)
Forms to learn by heart
- süüa → sööge (eat), juua → jooge (drink): the vowel changes back.
- teha → tehke (do), näha → nähke (see), anda → andke (give), leida → leidke (find): these take -ke.
Who it is for
Use it for more than one person: Lapsed, tulge sööma! (Children, come and eat!) Also use it for one person you address politely with teie: Istuge, palun. See sina and teie. Signs and instructions use it too: Lugege tekst läbi.
Related forms
Put ärge in front for a negative command: Ärge tehke seda! (Don't do that!) See ära and ärge. For “let's”, everyday Estonian uses the present we-form: Lähme! See let's (teeme, lähme).
Examples (6)
- Tulge sisse!
Come in!
Word by Word: come inside
Said to several people, or politely to one person.
- Istuge, palun!
Please sit down!
Word by Word: sit, please
- Vaadake seda pilti!
Look at this picture!
Word by Word: look this(PART) picture(PART)
The da-infinitive vaadata ends in -ta, so the ending is -ke.
- Oodake natuke!
Wait a moment!
Word by Word: wait a-little
- Lugege tekst läbi ja vastake küsimustele.
Read the text and answer the questions.
Word by Word: read text through and answer questions(ALL)
- Andke andeks, kus on bussijaam?
Excuse me, where is the bus station?
Word by Word: give forgiveness, where is bus-station
Common Mistakes
Using -ge after a da-infinitive in -ta.
Vaadage!Vaadake!The da-infinitive is vaadata, which ends in -ta, so the ending is -ke.
Building the form on the present stem.
Tulege!Tulge!The plural command comes from the da-infinitive tulla, not from the present stem tule-.
Using -ge with tegema.
Tehge oma kodutöö!Tehke oma kodutöö!teha is one of a few common verbs that take -ke: tehke, nähke, andke.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The plural command uses the da-infinitive stem.
Related Patterns
- sina / teieFamiliar Sina and Polite Teie
The plural command is also the polite form for teie.
Level 1 - ära / ärgeNegative Commands
ärge makes the negative plural command.
Level 2 - Let Us (teeme, lähme)
The everyday way to say let's.
Level 2 - ole heaAsking Nicely (Ole Hea)
Its plural olge head softens a request.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Plural and Polite Command (-ge/-ke) in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Estonian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
