Impersonal Supine (-tama)
Add -ma to the impersonal stem: tasuta- + ma = tasutama. Maks peab tasutama means the tax must be paid.
How It Works
The ma-infinitive has a rare impersonal form. Build it from the impersonal stem plus -ma:
- tasuma: tasuta- → tasutama
- tegema: tehta- → tehtama
- arutama: arutata- → arutatama
Only after pidama. You will not find it after hakkama or minema. It has two uses:
- Obligation (older, official): Maks peab tasutama tähtajaks. (The tax must be paid by the deadline.) This was common in laws and notices of the 1930s and earlier and now sounds like officialese.
- Supposedly (modern): with pidi or pidavat it passes on a plan or rumour: Täna pidi tehtama sauna. (The sauna is supposed to be heated today.)
What to write today. For an obligation, use tuleb + da-infinitive or peab olema + -tud:
- Maks tuleb tasuda tähtajaks.
- Maks peab olema tasutud tähtajaks.
Be careful with the active ma-infinitive. Maks peab tasuma would mean the tax itself must pay. And pidama never takes a da-infinitive, so peab tasuda is wrong.
Examples (6)
- Maks peab tasutama tähtajaks.
The tax must be paid by the deadline.
- Maks tuleb tasuda tähtajaks.
The tax has to be paid by the deadline.
- Iga töö peab tasutama.
Every piece of work must be paid for.
- Täna pidi tehtama sauna.
The sauna is supposed to be heated today.
- Koosolekul pidi arutatama uut eelarvet.
The new budget was supposed to be discussed at the meeting.
- Kõik taotlused peavad olema esitatud reedeks.
All applications must be submitted by Friday.
Common Mistakes
Putting a da-infinitive after pidama.
Maks peab tasuda tähtajaks.Maks tuleb tasuda tähtajaks.tulema takes the da-infinitive, but pidama never does. Use tuleb tasuda, or the older peab tasutama.
Using the active ma-infinitive when the thing is what gets done.
Maks peab tasuma tähtajaks.Maks tuleb tasuda tähtajaks.tasuma is active, so this sentence says the tax itself must pay. The tax is what gets paid, so use tuleb tasuda (or the older impersonal peab tasutama).
How It Connects
Learn This First
-tama is an impersonal ma-form after pidama.
Related Patterns
- tuleb + da-InfinitiveHaving to (Tuleb)
The usual modern way to say something must be done.
Level 3 - pidiSupposed to (Pidi)
In modern Estonian the form mostly appears with pidi.
Level 4 - Officialese (kantseliit)
Its obligation meaning now sounds like officialese.
Level 5 - ma-InfinitiveThe Ma-Infinitive (Dictionary Form)
This is a rare impersonal ma-form.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Impersonal Supine (-tama) in Bubblegum
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