Astemäärsõnad

Astemäärsõnad, also known as ordinal numbers, are a class of words that indicate position or order within a sequence. Unlike cardinal numbers, which represent quantity (e.g., one, two, three), ordinal numbers specify the rank of an item (e.g., first, second, third). In Estonian, astemäärsõnad are typically formed by adding suffixes to cardinal numerals or by using distinct words. For example, "üks" (one) becomes "esimene" (first), "kaks" (two) becomes "teine" (second), and "kolm" (three) becomes "kolmas" (third). Beyond the first few, the pattern often involves adding "-s" or "-is" to the cardinal number, such as "neljas" (fourth), "viies" (fifth), and "kümnes" (tenth).

These words function as adjectives, modifying nouns by specifying their position. They agree in case and number with the noun they describe. For instance, "esimeses reas" (in the first row) demonstrates agreement in the inessive case. Astemäärsõnad are crucial for establishing order, whether in time, space, or any other form of enumeration. They are used in everyday language, from describing events in a day to ranking participants in a competition. Understanding astemäärsõnad is fundamental to grasping the sequential aspects of Estonian grammar.