Plural Partitive

Level 2

The plural partitive means 'some' or 'many' of something. It has three shapes: -id (raamatuid), -sid (majasid) or a vowel change (maju, jalgu).

How It Works

The plural partitive is the plural of the partitive. You need it for an unspecified number of things (Ma ostsin õunu. 'I bought some apples.'), after amount words (palju sõpru 'many friends'), in negative sentences (Mul ei ole lapsi. 'I have no children.') and with verbs that take the partitive (Ma armastan koeri. 'I love dogs.').

It has three main shapes:

  • -id: raamatuid, tüdrukuid, õpikuid, punaseid, and short words with a long vowel: puu → puid, töö → töid
  • -sid added to the singular partitive: majasid, tubasid, sõprasid, õunasid
  • a vowel change: the last vowel of the singular partitive changes: maja → maju, tuba → tube, jalga → jalgu, kooli → koole

Many two-syllable words have both a short vowel form and a long -sid form, and both are correct: maju or majasid, tube or tubasid, sõpru or sõprasid. Some words add -i to a different stem: laps → lapsi, mees → mehi.

The vowel in the short form follows the singular partitive. An -i becomes -e (kooli → koole), an -e becomes -i (lehte → lehti), and an -a becomes -u, -i or -e depending on the first syllable (jalga → jalgu, venda → vendi, tuba → tube). Dictionaries list the plural partitive, so learn it with the word.

Examples (6)

  1. Ma ostsin turult õunu.

    I bought some apples at the market.

    Õuna changes its final vowel: õunu.

  2. Mul on palju sõpru.

    I have a lot of friends.

    Palju is followed by the plural partitive.

  3. Raamatukogus on tuhandeid raamatuid.

    There are thousands of books in the library.

    Raamat takes -id: raamatuid.

  4. Mul ei ole lapsi.

    I don't have any children.

    Negation calls for the partitive.

  5. Ma armastan koeri.

    I love dogs.

    Armastama takes the partitive.

  6. Sellel tänaval on palju vanu maju.

    There are many old houses on this street.

    Both the adjective and the noun take the short form.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the nominative plural where the partitive is needed.

    Mul on palju sõbrad.
    Mul on palju sõpru.

    Palju always takes the partitive, so the plural partitive sõpru is needed.

  • Adding -id to a word that changes its vowel.

    Ma ostsin õunaid.
    Ma ostsin õunu.

    Õun has the plural partitive õunu, or the long form õunasid. There is no form õunaid.

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Plural PartitiveLevel 2

Learn This First

The plural partitive has several patterns.

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Patterns that build on this one.