In Estonian grammar, gender is not as prevalent as it is in many other languages. Estonian does not have distinct gender categories for nouns, pronouns, or adjectives. Instead, the language relies on context and common usage to convey the gender of a subject. Nevertheless, some words may imply a specific gender through their meaning or historical usage. By learning these nuances, students can better understand Estonian language and its subtle ways of expressing gender.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate Estonian word for the context (male or female)
1. Ta on mu *Ƶde* (sister).
2. *Mees* (man) ostis poest saia.
3. Ta on mu *vend* (brother).
4. *Naine* (woman) rƤƤkis oma sƵpradega.
5. Tema *ema* (mother) on arst.
6. Ta on minu *isa* (father).
7. Poeg tervitas oma *emale* (to mother).
8. Ta andis lilli oma *tĆ¼druksƵbrale* (girlfriend).
9. *Vanaisa* (grandfather) rƤƤkis lugu.
10. Ta on minu *vanaema* (grandmother).
11. Karla on hea *nƤitleja* (actress).
12. Mihkel on kuulus *nƤitleja* (actor).
13. Ta lƤks kohtama oma *poiss-sƵbraga* (boyfriend).
14. *Kuningas* (king) valitses riiki.
15. Ilus *kuninganna* (queen) kƵndis aias.
2. *Mees* (man) ostis poest saia.
3. Ta on mu *vend* (brother).
4. *Naine* (woman) rƤƤkis oma sƵpradega.
5. Tema *ema* (mother) on arst.
6. Ta on minu *isa* (father).
7. Poeg tervitas oma *emale* (to mother).
8. Ta andis lilli oma *tĆ¼druksƵbrale* (girlfriend).
9. *Vanaisa* (grandfather) rƤƤkis lugu.
10. Ta on minu *vanaema* (grandmother).
11. Karla on hea *nƤitleja* (actress).
12. Mihkel on kuulus *nƤitleja* (actor).
13. Ta lƤks kohtama oma *poiss-sƵbraga* (boyfriend).
14. *Kuningas* (king) valitses riiki.
15. Ilus *kuninganna* (queen) kƵndis aias.
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate Estonian possessive pronoun (tema, tema, nende)
1. See on *tema* (his) koer.
2. See on *tema* (her) kass.
3. Kas need on *nende* (their) jalgrattad?
4. *Tema* (His) ema on Ƶpetaja.
5. *Tema* (Her) vend kƤib koolis.
6. *Nende* (Their) auto on sinine.
7. See on *tema* (his) maja.
8. *Tema* (Her) sƵbranna on laulja.
9. *Nende* (Their) pere on suur.
10. Ta ostis selle raamatu *tema* (his) pojale.
11. See on *tema* (her) tƶƶlaud.
12. *Tema* (His) abikaasa on advokaat.
13. See on *tema* (her) fotograafia.
14. *Nende* (Their) koera nimi on Muki.
15. Ta kuulas *tema* (his) lemmiklaulu.
2. See on *tema* (her) kass.
3. Kas need on *nende* (their) jalgrattad?
4. *Tema* (His) ema on Ƶpetaja.
5. *Tema* (Her) vend kƤib koolis.
6. *Nende* (Their) auto on sinine.
7. See on *tema* (his) maja.
8. *Tema* (Her) sƵbranna on laulja.
9. *Nende* (Their) pere on suur.
10. Ta ostis selle raamatu *tema* (his) pojale.
11. See on *tema* (her) tƶƶlaud.
12. *Tema* (His) abikaasa on advokaat.
13. See on *tema* (her) fotograafia.
14. *Nende* (Their) koera nimi on Muki.
15. Ta kuulas *tema* (his) lemmiklaulu.