pidama + ma-Infinitive
Must (Pidama)
Ma pean minema. means I have to go. pean changes for the person; minema stays in the ma-infinitive.
How It Works
1. Present tense forms
- ma pean, sa pead, ta peab
- me peame, te peate, nad peavad
Me peame homme vara tõusma. (We have to get up early tomorrow.)
2. Past tense forms
pidin, pidid, pidi, pidime, pidite, pidid: Ta pidi eile kaua tööl olema. (She had to be at work for a long time yesterday.)
3. Always the ma-infinitive
The second verb never takes a personal ending and never uses the da-infinitive: pean minema, not pean minna or pean lähen.
4. The negative changes the meaning
Ma ei pea minema means I don't have to go. It does not mean must not. For must not, use ei tohi with the da-infinitive: Sa ei tohi siin suitsetada. (You must not smoke here.)
5. Other ways to say it
on vaja means need to, tuleb sounds more formal, and the conditional peaks means should.
Examples (6)
- Ma pean minema.
I have to go.
Word by Word: I must go(MA-INF)
- Sa pead rohkem magama.
You need to sleep more.
Word by Word: you must more sleep(MA-INF)
- Me peame homme vara tõusma.
We have to get up early tomorrow.
Word by Word: we must tomorrow early rise(MA-INF)
- Ta pidi eile kaua tööl olema.
She had to be at work for a long time yesterday.
Word by Word: she had-to yesterday long work-at be(MA-INF)
pidi is the past tense of pidama.
- Kas ma pean kohe maksma?
Do I have to pay right away?
Word by Word: Q I must right-away pay(MA-INF)
- Lapsed peavad kell üheksa magama minema.
The children have to go to bed at nine.
Word by Word: children must clock nine sleep(MA-INF) go(MA-INF)
Common Mistakes
Using the da-infinitive after pidama.
Ma pean minna.Ma pean minema.pidama always takes the ma-infinitive.
Conjugating both verbs.
Ma pean lähen.Ma pean minema.Only pidama takes the personal ending. The second verb stays in the ma-infinitive.
Using ei pea for must not.
Sa ei pea siin suitsetama.Sa ei tohi siin suitsetada.You meant You must not smoke here, but Sa ei pea siin suitsetama means You don't have to smoke here. A ban uses ei tohi.
How It Connects
Learn This First
pidama is followed by the ma-infinitive.
Related Patterns
- ei peaNot Having to (Ei Pea)
The negative means do not have to.
Level 2 - tohtimaBeing Allowed (Tohtima)
ei tohi is the word for must not.
Level 2 - on vajaNeeding (On Vaja)
Another way to say what needs to be done.
Level 2 - tuleb + da-InfinitiveHaving to (Tuleb)
A more formal way to express obligation.
Level 3 - peaks / võiksShould and Could
The conditional peaks softens must to should.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice pidama + ma-Infinitive in Bubblegum
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