Key Forms of a Verb

Level 2

Learn each verb with four forms: the ma-infinitive, the da-infinitive, the present (he or she form) and the -tud form: lugema, lugeda, loeb, loetud (to read).

How It Works

The stem of an Estonian verb often changes from one form to another, so learners' dictionaries list four key forms (põhivormid):

  • ma-infinitive: lugema, the dictionary form
  • da-infinitive: lugeda
  • present, he or she form: loeb
  • -tud form: loetud

Each one is the base for a family of forms:

  • ma-infinitive → simple past and the -mas, -mast and -mata forms: lugesin, lugemas
  • da-infinitive → the -nud form, most commands and the -des form: lugenud, lugege, lugedes
  • present → the other present forms, the conditional and the 'you' command: loen, loeksin, loe!
  • -tud form → the impersonal: loetakse, loeti

More examples: elama, elada, elab, elatud (to live); hakkama, hakata, hakkab, hakatud (to start); tulema, tulla, tuleb, tuldud (to come); tegema, teha, teeb, tehtud (to do, to make); ütlema, öelda, ütleb, öeldud (to say).

The Estonian reference grammar lists the impersonal present (loetakse) as the fourth key form instead of loetud. Dictionaries such as Sõnaveeb show both, and either one leads to the impersonal forms.

Examples (6)

  1. Ma loen iga päev.

    I read every day.

    Loen is built on the present key form loeb.

  2. Eile lugesin terve raamatu läbi.

    Yesterday I read a whole book.

    The simple past lugesin is built on lugema.

  3. Ma tahan seda raamatut lugeda.

    I want to read this book.

    The da-infinitive lugeda follows tahtma.

  4. Kas sa oled seda lugenud?

    Have you read it?

    The -nud form lugenud is built on lugeda.

  5. Seda raamatut loetakse koolis.

    This book is read at school.

    The impersonal loetakse comes from loetud.

  6. Lugege teksti!

    Read the text!

    The plural command lugege is built on lugeda.

Common Mistakes

  • Building the present from the ma-infinitive.

    Ma lugen raamatut.
    Ma loen raamatut.

    The present has its own stem, which the key form loeb shows. Lugema changes to loe- in the present.

  • Building the -nud form from the ma-infinitive.

    Ma olen seda juba tegenud.
    Ma olen seda juba teinud.

    The -nud form follows the da-infinitive teha, and the result is teinud.

  • Building the simple past from the present stem.

    Eile ma loesin.
    Eile ma lugesin.

    The simple past is built on the ma-infinitive lugema, so it is lugesin.

How It Connects

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

Key Forms of a VerbLevel 2

Learn This First

The key verb forms include the da-infinitive and present.