Verbs That Change Meaning with Case

Level 5

Ta sai arstiks means She became a doctor. Ta sai kirja means She got a letter. The case after saama decides the meaning.

How It Works

With some verbs, the case of the next word changes the meaning of the verb. Learn each verb together with its cases:

  • saama + translative: become. Ta sai arstiks. (She became a doctor.)
    saama + object: get. Ta sai kirja. (She got a letter.)
  • mõtlema + allative: think of, turn your thoughts to. Ma mõtlen sulle. (I am thinking of you.)
    mõtlema + elative: think about a topic. Millest sa mõtled? (What are you thinking about?)
    mõtlema + üle: think something over. Ma mõtlen selle üle. (I will think it over.)
  • rääkima + comitative: talk with. Ma rääkisin Mariga. (I talked with Mari.)
    rääkima + elative: talk about. Ma rääkisin Marist. (I talked about Mari.)
  • pidama + translative: consider. Ma pean teda sõbraks. (I consider him a friend.)
    pidama + elative: think highly of. Ta peab endast liiga palju. (He thinks too much of himself.)
  • jääma + translative: become, end up. Laps jäi haigeks. (The child fell ill.)
    jääma + a place: stay. Laps jäi koju. (The child stayed home.)

A pattern to notice. The translative (-ks) often means become or count as. The elative (-st) often names a topic. The comitative (-ga) names a partner.

Examples (6)

  1. Ma mõtlen sageli sulle.

    I often think of you.

  2. Millest sa mõtled?

    What are you thinking about?

    Word by Word: from-what you think

  3. Ta sai eelmisel aastal arstiks.

    She became a doctor last year.

    Arstiks is translative, so saama means become.

  4. Ta sai eile kirja.

    She got a letter yesterday.

    Kirja is an object, so saama means get.

  5. Ma pean teda oma parimaks sõbraks.

    I consider him my best friend.

  6. Laps jäi haigeks, nii et ta jäi koju.

    The child fell ill, so she stayed home.

    Jääma means become with haigeks (translative) and stay with koju (a place).

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out the translative ending after saama when you mean become.

    Ma tahan saada arst.
    Ma tahan saada arstiks.

    Intended meaning: I want to become a doctor. Become needs the translative: arstiks.

  • Using the elative when you mean talking with someone.

    Eile rääkisin Marist telefonis.
    Eile rääkisin Mariga telefonis.

    Intended meaning: Yesterday I talked with Mari on the phone. Marist means about Mari. For talking with someone, use the comitative: Mariga.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Verbs That Change Meaning with CaseLevel 5

Learn This First

Some verbs change meaning with their case.

Words in This Pattern

saamarääkimamõtlema