Sudden Action (-ata-)

Level 5

Laps karjus means the child was shouting. Laps karjatas means the child let out one short cry. The suffix -ata- turns the action into a single sudden moment.

How It Works

Compare each pair. The first verb can last a while. The second verb happens once and quickly.

  • karjuma → karjatama: Laps karjus. (The child was shouting.) Laps karjatas. (The child cried out once.)
  • hüüdma → hüüatama: Ta hüüdis mind. (She called me.) „Vaata!” hüüatas ta. ("Look!" she exclaimed.)
  • võppuma → võpatama: Ta õlad võppusid nutust. (Her shoulders were shaking with sobs.) Ta võpatas. (She flinched.)
  • välkuma → välgatama: Nuga välkus päikese käes. (The knife glinted in the sun.) Pimeduses välgatas tuli. (A light flashed once in the dark.)
  • seisma → seisatama: Ta seisis ukse ees. (He was standing at the door.) Ta seisatas ukse ees. (He paused at the door for a moment.)

Most of these verbs come from words for sounds and movements. Sometimes the meaning shifts: naerma (laugh) gives naeratama, which means smile.

The stem of an -ata- verb never changes: ma karjatan, ta karjatas, karjatanud, karjatada. You meet these verbs mostly in the past tense, because stories describe single moments.

A rarer, more expressive variant of the suffix is -ahta-: karjahtama means the same as karjatama.

Be careful with karjatama. It has a second, unrelated meaning that comes from kari (herd): to graze cattle. Loomi karjatati karjamaal. (The animals were grazed in the pasture.)

Examples (6)

  1. Laps karjatas ehmatusest.

    The child cried out in fright.

    Word by Word: child cried-out from-fright

    Karjatama is one short cry. For long shouting, use karjuma.

  2. „Oi, kui ilus!” hüüatas ema.

    "Oh, how beautiful!" Mom exclaimed.

  3. Ta võpatas, kui telefon äkki helises.

    She flinched when the phone suddenly rang.

  4. Mees seisatas korraks ukse ees.

    The man paused for a moment at the door.

  5. Pimeduses välgatas tuli.

    A light flashed in the dark.

  6. Tüdruk naeratas mulle.

    The girl smiled at me.

    Naeratama comes from naerma (laugh), but it means smile.

Common Mistakes

  • Using an -ata- verb for an action that goes on for a long time.

    Laps karjatas terve öö.
    Laps karjus terve öö.

    Intended meaning: the child screamed all night. Karjatama is one short cry, so it cannot last all night. Use the base verb karjuma for a long action.

  • Using naeratama when you mean laughing out loud.

    Me naeratasime tema nalja üle valjusti.
    Me naersime tema nalja üle valjusti.

    Intended meaning: we laughed loudly at his joke. Naeratama means smile, which makes no sound. For laughing, use naerma.

How It Connects

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

Sudden Action (-ata-)Level 5

Learn This First

-ata- is a verb-to-verb suffix.

Words in This Pattern

hüüatamavõpatama