Where the Particle Goes

Level 4

Ma panin ukse kinni, but Ma olen ukse kinni pannud. The particle is at the end, or right before a verb that is at the end.

How It Works

A particle verb has two parts, such as kinni panema (to close) or ära minema (to leave). The parts are written separately and often stand apart in the sentence.

1. Main clause with a one-word verb: the particle goes to the end, after the object and most other words.

  • Ma panin ukse kinni. (I closed the door.)
  • Ma ei pannud ust kinni. (I didn't close the door.)
  • Kas sa panid ukse kinni? (Did you close the door?)

2. Two-part verb forms: when the verb ends in a -nud or -tud form or an infinitive, the particle comes right before that form.

  • Ma olen ukse kinni pannud. (I have closed the door.)
  • Ma tahan ukse kinni panna. (I want to close the door.)

3. Subordinate clauses: the verb may keep its usual place or go to the end. When it goes to the end, the particle comes right before it: Ta küsis, kas ma ukse kinni panin. The order kas ma panin ukse kinni is also correct.

Placing the particle after the object also shows that the object is already known. When the object is new and heavy, the particle can come before it: Ta pani kinni kõik aknad ja uksed.

Examples (6)

  1. Ma panin ukse kinni.

    I closed the door.

    Main clause: the particle kinni goes to the end.

  2. Ma ei pannud ust kinni.

    I didn't close the door.

    Negation changes the object to ust, but kinni still goes to the end.

  3. Ma olen ukse juba kinni pannud.

    I have already closed the door.

    Kinni comes right before the -nud form.

  4. Palun pane uks kinni.

    Please close the door.

    In a command, the whole object is nominative and the particle still goes last.

  5. Ta küsis, kas ma ukse kinni panin.

    She asked whether I had closed the door.

    The verb stands last in the subordinate clause, so kinni comes just before it.

  6. Kui buss ära läks, hakkas sadama.

    When the bus left, it started to rain.

    Ära comes right before läks at the end of the kui-clause.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the particle before a one-word verb in a main clause.

    Ma kinni panin ukse.
    Ma panin ukse kinni.

    In a main clause with a one-word verb, the verb comes second and the particle goes to the end.

  • Putting the particle between ei and the verb.

    Ma ei kinni pannud ust.
    Ma ei pannud ust kinni.

    Ei and the verb stay together, and the particle still goes to the end.

How It Connects

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

Where the Particle GoesLevel 4

Learn This First

The particle's position depends on the clause type.