Using üks and see Like Articles
Üks mees tuli sisse means a man came in. See mees oli pikk means the man was tall. Speech often adds üks for someone new and see for someone already mentioned.
How It Works
Estonian has no articles. Still, in everyday speech two ordinary words often do a similar job.
- üks (one) introduces a new, specific person or thing, like English a: Üks mees tuli sisse. (A man came in.) Mul on sulle üks küsimus. (I have a question for you.)
- see (this, that) points back to something already known, like English the: See mees oli väga pikk. (The man was very tall.)
They are still real words. Both change with their noun: ühe mehega, ühte filmi; selle mehe, selles majas. The plural of see is need: need raamatud. The singular üks does not go with a plural noun. Its plural ühed is used mainly with words that exist only in the plural: ühed püksid (a pair of trousers). For some in the plural, use mõned or the partitive plural: Laual on mõned raamatud. or Laual on raamatuid. Mass nouns do not take üks either: Ma joon kohvi.
Without the helper words. Word order already shows what is new. A new thing often comes after the verb: Tuppa tuli mees. (A man came into the room.) A known thing comes first: Mees istus maha. (The man sat down.) That is why careful writing can leave üks and see out.
Style. Using üks and see this way is normal in speech, and üks also adds the meaning of a certain: Üks mu sõber elab Soomes. (A friend of mine lives in Finland.) In formal writing, drop them when the context is clear.
Examples (6)
- Üks mees tuli sisse ja istus akna alla.
A man came in and sat down by the window.
Word by Word: one man came in and sat window under
üks introduces a new person.
- See mees oli väga pikk.
The man was very tall.
see points back to the man already mentioned.
- Mul on sulle üks küsimus.
I have a question for you.
A very common spoken use of üks.
- Eile vaatasin ühte väga head filmi.
Yesterday I watched a really good film.
üks changes case with its noun: ühte filmi is partitive after vaatama.
- Kus see raamat on, mille ma sulle eile andsin?
Where is the book I gave you yesterday?
see marks a book both speakers know about.
- Tuppa tuli mees.
A man came into the room.
No üks is needed: the new person comes after the verb.
Common Mistakes
Using üks with a plural noun.
Laual on üks raamatud.Laual on mõned raamatud.The singular üks does not go with a plural noun. For some in the plural, use mõned or the partitive plural raamatuid.
Not declining see with its noun.
Ma elan see majas.Ma elan selles majas.see changes case together with the noun: selles majas (in the house), selle maja (of the house).
Using see with a plural noun.
See raamatud on minu.Need raamatud on minu.The plural of see is need.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Speech uses üks and see a little like articles.
Related Patterns
- There Is Sentences
Word order in there is sentences shows new information without üks.
Level 2 - Partitive Subject
The partitive plural gives the meaning of some: Laual on raamatuid.
Level 2 - kõik / iga / mõniAll, Every, Some
mõni and mõned are the usual words for some.
Level 2 - Written vs Spoken Estonian
Article-like üks and see are much more common in speech than in writing.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice Using üks and see Like Articles in Bubblegum
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