peaks / võiks
Should and Could
Sa peaksid puhkama means You should rest. Me võiksime kinno minna means We could go to the cinema.
How It Works
Pidama (must) and võima (can, may) are often used in the conditional to give advice.
- peaksin, peaksid, peaks ... + ma-infinitive = should: Sa peaksid rohkem puhkama.
- võiksin, võiksid, võiks ... + da-infinitive = could, might: Me võiksime kinno minna.
The infinitive does not change in the conditional. Because pidama takes -ma, it is peaks puhkama. Because võima takes -da, it is võiks minna.
Peaks can also say what you expect to be true: Rong peaks kohe tulema. (The train should come any minute.) Ta peaks juba kodus olema. (She should be home by now.)
The third person form võiks without a subject gives a general suggestion: Seda võiks proovida. (It would be worth a try.)
Negative: ei peaks (should not), with no personal ending: Sa ei peaks nii palju muretsema. For a stronger should not, use ei tohiks: Sa ei tohiks nii kiiresti sõita.
Examples (6)
- Sa peaksid rohkem puhkama.
You should rest more.
Peaks with the ma-infinitive puhkama.
- Me võiksime täna õhtul kinno minna.
We could go to the cinema tonight.
Võiks with the da-infinitive minna.
- Kas ma peaksin talle helistama?
Should I call him?
- Sa ei peaks nii palju muretsema.
You shouldn't worry so much.
The negative is ei peaks for every person.
- Rong peaks kohe tulema.
The train should be coming any minute.
Here peaks expresses an expectation, not advice.
- Seda võiks proovida.
It would be worth a try.
Võiks without a subject makes a general suggestion.
Common Mistakes
Using the da-infinitive after peaks.
Sa peaksid puhata.Sa peaksid puhkama.Pidama always takes the ma-infinitive, in the conditional too.
Using the ma-infinitive after võiks.
Me võiksime kinno minema.Me võiksime kinno minna.Võima always takes the da-infinitive.
Adding a personal ending after ei.
Sa ei peaksid nii palju muretsema.Sa ei peaks nii palju muretsema.After ei the conditional form has no personal ending.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Advice uses the conditional of pidama and võima.
Related Patterns
- võima / saama / oskamaCan and May
Võima and its uses in the present.
Level 2 - ma- or da-InfinitiveWhich Infinitive?
Explains why peaks takes -ma and võiks takes -da.
Level 2 - Conditional (-ksi-)
The conditional endings used in peaksin and võiksin.
Level 3 - oleks pidanud / oleks võinudShould Have and Could Have
The past version: should have and could have.
Level 4 - tohtimaBeing Allowed (Tohtima)
Ei tohiks is a stronger should not.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice peaks / võiks in Bubblegum
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