pidama + Translative

Considering Something as

Level 5

Ma pean teda targaks means I consider her smart. What you think she is goes in the translative (-ks).

How It Works

The pattern has three parts:

  • pidama: ma pean, sa pead, ta peab...
  • who or what you judge, in the partitive: teda, seda, oma venda
  • your judgment, in the translative (-ks): heaks sõbraks, oluliseks, õigeks

Ma pean teda heaks sõbraks. (I consider him a good friend.) An adjective and its noun both take -ks. In the plural, both are plural: Ma pean neid headeks sõpradeks.

The judgment can also be about an action. Add a da-infinitive or a clause: Ma pean õigeks talle tõtt rääkida. (I think it is right to tell him the truth.) Ta peab võimalikuks, et hinnad tõusevad. (She thinks it possible that prices will rise.)

The impersonal is very common: Seda peetakse väga oluliseks. (It is considered very important.) Teda peeti geeniuseks. (He was considered a genius.)

Compare the other pidama: Ma pean minema (I must go) uses the ma-infinitive and means must. With the translative, pidama is about an opinion.

Examples (6)

  1. Ma pean teda heaks sõbraks.

    I consider him a good friend.

  2. Seda peetakse väga oluliseks.

    This is considered very important.

  3. Ma ei pea seda vajalikuks.

    I don't think it's necessary.

  4. Keda sa pead parimaks eesti kirjanikuks?

    Who do you consider the best Estonian writer?

  5. Teda peeti geeniuseks.

    He was considered a genius.

  6. Ma pean õigeks talle tõtt rääkida.

    I think it's right to tell him the truth.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving the judgment in the nominative.

    Ma pean teda hea sõber.
    Ma pean teda heaks sõbraks.

    The judgment goes in the translative, and the adjective agrees with its noun: heaks sõbraks.

  • Using a genitive object.

    Ma pean selle õigeks.
    Ma pean seda õigeks.

    In this meaning pidama always takes a partitive object: seda, teda, neid.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

pidama + TranslativeLevel 5Considering Something as

Learn This First

Considering takes a partitive and a translative.

Words in This Pattern

pidama