Partitive Singular

The partitive singular answers the questions whom? what?

The partitive singular is formed by adding -t, -d or -da, or using the stem vowel.
The partitive case ending is -t  in the following cases:

1) the word has three or more syllables in the genitive singular
põrand, põranda, põrandat 'floor'               lusikas, lusika, lusikat 'spoon'
tume, tumeda, tumedat 'dark'

2) the word has two syllables in the nom. sg., the first one containing a long or overlong sound or sound combination
kerge, kerge, kerget 'lite, easy'                   auto, auto, autot 'car'
kahvel, kahvli, kahvlit 'fork'

3) the word ends with -ne or -s in the nominative
küsimus, küsimuse, küsimust 'question'     kollane, kollase, kollast 'yellow'
soodne, soodsa, soodsat 'advantageous'

4) the word ends with -l, -n or -r in the nominative
number, numbri, numbrit 'number'              peegel, peegli, peeglit ' mirror'

5) the nominative form of the word ending with -l, -n, -r has one syllable, and its genitive form ending with -e has two syllables
keel, keele, keelt ' language'                      suur, suure, suurt 'large, big'

6) the gradational word takes the weak grade in the nominative case, the strong in the genitive and the weak in the partitive
kate, katte, katet 'cover'                             hammas, hamba, hammast ' tooth'

The partitive ends with -d:

1) after a long or overlong vowel or diphthong
maa, maa, maad 'land, country'                pea, pea, pead ' head'
hea, hea, head 'good'

2) in the pronouns mind and sind

3) in irregular words:
veri, vere, verd 'blood'                               meri, mere, merd 'sea'
lumi, lume, lund 'snow'                              uni, une, und 'dream'
mõni, mõne, mõnd 'some'                         tuli, tule, tuld 'fire'

The partitive ends with -da in some pronouns:
keda, mida, seda, teda

The partitive that uses the stem vowel occurs:

1) in two-syllable non-gradational words, where the first syllable contains short sounds
maja, maja, maja 'house'                         onu, onu, onu 'uncle'
isa, isa, isa 'father'                                   suvi, suve, suve 'summer'

2) in gradational words with the strong grade in the nominative, the weak in the genitive, the strong in the partitive
maal, maali, maali 'painting'                    sein, seina, seina 'wall'
kapp, kapi, kappi 'closet'                         vaip, vaiba, vaipa 'carpet'
jõgi, jõe, jõge 'river'                                 tuba, toa, tuba 'room'
tühi, tühja, tühja 'empty'

The partitive is used:
1) for the object when the activity is not finished but progressive, e.g. Üliõpilane otsib korterit.

2) for the object when the activity is directed towards the phenomenon or thing partly (words of materials), e.g. (partitive) Ema ostis poest suhkrut ja leiba. cf. (genitive) Ema ostis poest leiva. '(partitive) Mother bought some sugar and bread from a shop. (genitive) Mother bought one bread.' (see Nominative. Genitive. Nominative Plural p. 2),

3) numeral + the partitive singular, e.g. Minu korteris on köök ja 2 tuba. 'There are kitchen and two rooms in my appartement.'

4) amount + the partitive singular, e.g. Kui palju maksab kilo suhkrut? Ma ostan paki võid. 'How much does one kilogram of sugar cost? I will buy a pack of butter.'

5) negation + the partitive singular, e.g. Tal ei ole korterit. 'She/He does not have an appartement.'

Verbs governing the partitive: armastama, hoidma, huvitama, imetlema, kartma, kiitma, kohtama, kuulama, mõjutama, mängima, märkama, nägema, ootama, otsima, süüdistama, taipama, taotlema, teadma, teenindama, tutvustama, tähistama, tänama, uurima, vaatama, vajama, tähele panama, etc.
E.g. Ma imetlen tema uut mööblit. Ma otsin korterit. 'I admire his /her new furniture. I am looking for a new appartement.'