Conditionals - Estonian Grammar

Conditionals are an important aspect of Estonian grammar, allowing speakers to express hypothetical or unreal situations. There are three main types of conditional sentences in Estonian: the real conditional, the unreal conditional, and the mixed conditional.

In the real conditional, the verb is conjugated in the present tense. This type of sentence is used to express a real possibility or a likely future event. For example, “Kui sa trenni teed, siis sa parandad oma tervist” (If you exercise, then you improve your health).

The unreal conditional, on the other hand, is used to express hypothetical or unreal situations. In this type of sentence, the verb is conjugated in the past tense. For example, “Kui ma võidaksin loteriil, ostaksin ma uue auto” (If I won the lottery, I would buy a new car).

The mixed conditional combines elements of both the real and unreal conditionals. It is used to express a hypothetical situation that has a possibility of happening in the present. For example, “Kui ma oleksin rikas, käiksin ma tihti reisimas” (If I were rich, I would travel often).

Overall, understanding and correctly using conditionals in Estonian grammar is crucial for expressing different types of hypothetical situations and possibilities.