Understanding Eesti Infinitive Formation
In the Estonian language, verbs have a special form called the infinitive. It's like the verb's name and is used to express the idea of an action without tying it to a specific time or subject.
Important Points
- The infinitive form is used to express actions in a general way.
- It is often used after certain verbs to show what action is happening.
- In Estonian, there are two main types of infinitives: the '-ma' infinitive and the '-da' infinitive.
- The '-ma' infinitive is used in many situations, such as after modal verbs like 'tahama' (to want).
- The '-da' infinitive is often used after verbs that express preference or necessity, like 'meeldima' (to like).
Let's explore how these infinitives are used with some examples.
Examples
- Ma tahan lugema raamatut. (I want to read a book.)
- Ta peab õppima eesti keelt. (He/She has to study Estonian.)
- Mulle meeldib joosta. (I like to run.)
To form the infinitive, you usually take the verb stem and add '-ma' or '-da'. The choice between '-ma' and '-da' depends on the verb and the context.
Understanding when to use each type of infinitive will help you express actions more clearly in Estonian.