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Pronoun agreement in number and gender Exercises in Estonian language
Pronoun agreement in number and gender is an essential aspect of mastering the Estonian language. Estonian, like many other languages, requires pronouns to match the nouns they refer to in both number and gender. This means that singular nouns are paired with singular pronouns, and plural nouns with plural pronouns. Additionally, while Estonian does not have gender-specific pronouns in the same way that English does (e.g., he, she, it), understanding the nuances of context and formality is crucial for proper pronoun usage. This section will guide you through the rules and exceptions that govern pronoun agreement in Estonian, offering a variety of exercises to help solidify your understanding.
In Estonian, pronouns must align with the grammatical number of their antecedents, and while gender-specific pronouns are not used, context and sentence structure play a significant role in ensuring clarity and precision. For example, the pronoun "tema" can mean "he" or "she," depending on the context, and must be correctly matched with either singular or plural forms. Similarly, the pronoun "nad" is used for plural subjects regardless of gender. By practicing these rules through targeted exercises, you will become proficient in maintaining pronoun agreement, which is a key component of fluent and accurate Estonian communication.
Exercise 1
<p>1. Ta *võtab* oma raamatu kaasa (verb for taking something).</p>
<p>2. Me *läheme* homme randa (verb for going somewhere).</p>
<p>3. Kass *mängib* oma lemmikmänguasjaga (verb for playing).</p>
<p>4. Nad *loevad* iga päev raamatut (verb for reading).</p>
<p>5. Poiss *joob* oma mahla ära (verb for drinking).</p>
<p>6. Ta *läks* eile poodi (verb for going somewhere in past tense).</p>
<p>7. Me *õpime* eesti keelt (verb for learning).</p>
<p>8. Lapsed *jooksevad* pargis ringi (verb for running).</p>
<p>9. Tüdruk *kirjutab* oma päevikut (verb for writing).</p>
<p>10. Nad *tulevad* varsti tagasi (verb for coming back).</p>
Exercise 2
<p>1. *Tema* läks poodi, sest *ta* tahtis osta piima (Pronoun for "he/she" in singular).</p>
<p>2. *Meie* sõbrad tulevad täna külla, aga *nemad* jäävad ainult paariks tunniks (Pronoun for "we" and "they" in plural).</p>
<p>3. *Mina* jään koju, sest *mul* on vaja õppida (Pronoun for "I" and the form for "I" with "have to").</p>
<p>4. *Teie* peaksite minema arsti juurde, sest *teil* on vaja retsepti (Pronoun for "you" in plural and the form for "you" with "have to").</p>
<p>5. *Sina* peaksid pesema nõusid, sest *sul* oli kord (Pronoun for "you" in singular and the form for "you" with "have to").</p>
<p>6. *Meie* pere armastab reisida, sest *me* naudime uusi kogemusi (Pronoun for "we" and the form for "we" with "enjoy").</p>
<p>7. *See* on minu koer, *ta* on väga sõbralik (Pronoun for "it" in singular).</p>
<p>8. *Need* on minu raamatud, *need* on väga huvitavad (Pronoun for "these" in plural).</p>
<p>9. *Tema* töötab kontoris, ja *tal* on palju ülesandeid (Pronoun for "he/she" in singular and the form for "he/she" with "have").</p>
<p>10. *Nad* mängivad pargis, sest *nende* lemmikmäng on jalgpall (Pronoun for "they" and the form for "they" with "favorite").</p>
Exercise 3
<p>1. *Ta* on minu parim sõber (he or she in Estonian).</p>
<p>2. Meie *koer* on väga sõbralik (our dog).</p>
<p>3. Kas *nad* tulevad täna peole? (they in Estonian).</p>
<p>4. *Tema* maja on väga suur (his or her house).</p>
<p>5. Ma nägin *neid* eile linnas (them in Estonian).</p>
<p>6. *See* on minu õpik (this in Estonian).</p>
<p>7. *Need* raamatud on väga huvitavad (these in Estonian).</p>
<p>8. Kas *sa* tead, kus mu võtmed on? (you in singular).</p>
<p>9. *Te* olete väga lahked (you in plural).</p>
<p>10. *Me* lähme homme matkale (we in Estonian).</p>