Verb Last in a Subordinate Clause
Ütle, kui sa aru ei saa means tell me if you don't understand. In a kui-clause, a relative clause or an indirect question, the verb often comes last.
How It Works
In an ordinary statement the verb is the second part of the sentence: Ma sõidan homme Tallinna. Some subordinate clauses allow the verb to go to the end instead.
Where the verb often goes last
- Relative clauses: See on mees, kellega ma eile rääkisin. (That's the man I talked to yesterday.)
- Indirect questions: Ma ei tea, miks ta nii vara ära läks. (I don't know why she left so early.)
- Clauses with kui (when, if): Ütle, kui sa aru ei saa. Kui sa Tallinna tuled, helista mulle.
- Subordinate clauses after a negative or question main clause.
This order is optional. Ütle, kui sa aru ei saa and Ütle, kui sa ei saa aru are both correct.
Where normal order is expected. After et, sest and kuna following a positive statement, use the same order as in a main clause: Ma usun, et ta tuleb homme. Ma jäin koju, sest ma olin haige.
What moves with the verb. When the verb goes last, the negative ei and a verb particle go right before it: aru ei saa, ära läks.
Only in subordinate clauses. Do not move the verb to the end of a main statement: say Ma sõidan homme Tallinna, not Ma homme Tallinna sõidan. And always put a comma before the subordinate clause.
Examples (6)
- Ütle, kui sa aru ei saa.
Tell me if you don't understand.
Word by Word: say if you understanding not get
In a kui-clause the verb often goes last; ei and the particle aru come before it.
- See on mees, kellega ma eile rääkisin.
That's the man I talked to yesterday.
A relative clause with the verb at the end.
- Ma ei tea, miks ta nii vara ära läks.
I don't know why she left so early.
An indirect question; the particle ära comes before the verb.
- Kui sa Tallinna tuled, helista mulle.
If you come to Tallinn, call me.
The kui-clause ends with its verb tuled.
- Kas sa tead, kus ta praegu elab?
Do you know where he lives now?
An indirect question inside a question.
- Ma usun, et ta tuleb homme.
I think he'll come tomorrow.
After et in a positive statement, ordinary word order is the standard choice.
Common Mistakes
Putting the verb last in a main statement.
Ma homme Tallinna sõidan.Ma sõidan homme Tallinna.Verb-final order is for some subordinate clauses. A main statement keeps the verb in second place.
Leaving out the comma before the subordinate clause.
Ütle kui sa aru ei saa.Ütle, kui sa aru ei saa.Estonian always puts a comma before a subordinate clause, including clauses with kui, et, kes and mis.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Verb-final order appears in relative clauses and indirect questions.
Related Patterns
- Basic Word Order
The normal verb-second order that main clauses keep.
Level 1 - Verb in Second Place
How main clauses keep the verb second, in contrast to subordinate clauses.
Level 3 - Relative Clause with kes
Relative clauses are one of the places where the verb often goes last.
Level 3 - kuiWhen and if (Kui)
kui-clauses are one of the main places for verb-final order.
Level 2 - Commas Before Clauses
The comma that always comes before a subordinate clause.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Verb Last in a Subordinate Clause in Bubblegum
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