Where To, Where and Where From

Level 2

Many position words come in threes, just like the answers to kuhu, kus and kust: laua alla (to under the table), laua all (under the table), laua alt (from under the table). Kass läks laua alla. (The cat went under the table.)

How It Works

The most useful sets

  • under: alla – all – alt
  • on: peale – peal – pealt
  • behind: taha – taga – tagant
  • in front of: ette – ees – eest
  • next to: kõrvale – kõrval – kõrvalt
  • inside: sisse – sees – seest
  • between: vahele – vahel – vahelt
  • at someone's place: juurde – juures – juurest, see juurde

Which verb, which form?

  • Where to: minema (go), panema (put), istuma (sit down), jooksma (run to): Pane kott tooli peale. (Put the bag on the chair.)
  • Where: olema (be), seisma (stand), elama (live): Kott on tooli peal. (The bag is on the chair.)
  • Where from: tulema (come), võtma (take), kukkuma (fall off): Võta kott tooli pealt. (Take the bag off the chair.)

Watch out
English uses "on" for both put it on and it is on. Estonian needs two different forms: peale when you put something there, peal when it is already there.

Same pattern for here and there
The same three-way system appears in siia, siin, siit and in lähedale, lähedal, lähedalt.

Examples (6)

  1. Kass läks laua alla.

    The cat went under the table.

    Word by Word: cat went table(GEN) to-under

  2. Kass on laua all.

    The cat is under the table.

    Word by Word: cat is table(GEN) under

  3. Kass tuli laua alt välja.

    The cat came out from under the table.

    Word by Word: cat came table(GEN) from-under out

  4. Pane kott tooli peale.

    Put the bag on the chair.

    Word by Word: put bag chair(GEN) onto

    panema (put) always takes the "where to" form.

  5. Võta raamat kapi pealt.

    Take the book off the top of the cupboard.

    Word by Word: take book cupboard(GEN) from-on

  6. Ta istus minu kõrvale.

    She sat down next to me.

    Word by Word: she sat me(GEN) to-next-to

Common Mistakes

  • Using the "where" form after a verb of motion.

    Kass läks laua all.
    Kass läks laua alla.

    minema (go) describes movement to a place, so it takes the "where to" form alla.

  • Using the "where" form after panema.

    Pane kott tooli peal.
    Pane kott tooli peale.

    panema (put) always takes the "where to" form, even though English says "on".

  • Using the "where" form after a verb of taking away.

    Võta raamat kapi peal.
    Võta raamat kapi pealt.

    võtma (take) from a place takes the "where from" form pealt.

How It Connects

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

Where To, Where and Where FromLevel 2

Learn This First

Many position words have to, at and from forms.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

allaallalt