da-Infinitive
The Da-Infinitive
Ma tahan koju minna. Mulle meeldib lugeda. Kas sa oskad ujuda?
How It Works
Forms.
- -da is the most common ending: elama → elada, rääkima → rääkida, lugema → lugeda.
- -ta after some stems: hüppama → hüpata, pesema → pesta, jooksma → joosta.
- -a after some long vowels and diphthongs: käima → käia, sööma → süüa, jooma → juua. süüa and juua also change the vowel.
- Assimilated: tulema → tulla, olema → olla, minema → minna.
Dictionaries give the da-infinitive as the second key form: elama, elada. The most irregular ones, such as teha and näha, are in Irregular da-Infinitives.
When to use it.
- After verbs of wanting, ability and liking: Ma tahan puhata. Kas sa oskad ujuda? Mulle meeldib lugeda. See Can and May and Liking (mulle meeldib).
- After need and must expressions: Mul on vaja minna. Tuleb oodata. See Needing (on vaja) and Having To (tuleb).
- After adjectives: Seda on lihtne öelda. See Easy to Say.
ma or da? A few verbs, such as pidama, hakkama, minema and tulema, take the ma-infinitive instead: Ma tahan minna, but Ma pean minema. See Which Infinitive?.
Examples (6)
- Ma tahan koju minna.
I want to go home.
minema has the assimilated da-infinitive minna.
- Mulle meeldib lugeda.
I like reading.
- Kas sa oskad ujuda?
Can you swim?
oskama means to know how to.
- Me võime homme kohtuda.
We can meet tomorrow.
- Mul on vaja puhata.
I need to rest.
- Kas ma võin siin istuda?
May I sit here?
Common Mistakes
Using the ma-infinitive after tahtma.
Ma tahan koju minema.Ma tahan koju minna.tahtma takes the da-infinitive. The ma-infinitive follows only a few verbs such as pidama.
Using the ma-infinitive after meeldima.
Mulle meeldib lugema.Mulle meeldib lugeda.meeldima is followed by the da-infinitive.
Using the ma-infinitive after oskama.
Kas sa oskad ujuma?Kas sa oskad ujuda?oskama takes the da-infinitive. Compare õppima, which takes the ma-infinitive: Ma õpin ujuma.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The second infinitive is learned beside the dictionary form.
Related Patterns
- ma- or da-InfinitiveWhich Infinitive?
How to choose between the two infinitives.
Level 2 - Irregular da-Infinitives
The da-infinitives that do not follow the usual pattern.
Level 2 - võima / saama / oskamaCan and May
Common verbs followed by the da-infinitive.
Level 2 - meeldimaLiking (Mulle Meeldib)
Mulle meeldib takes the da-infinitive.
Level 1 - on vajaNeeding (On Vaja)
Needing to do something uses the da-infinitive.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- Plural and Polite Command (-ge/-ke)Plural and Polite CommandLevel 1
- Impersonal Present (-takse/-dakse)Impersonal PresentLevel 2
- -nud FormLevel 2
- Key Forms of a VerbLevel 2
- Adjective + da-InfinitiveEasy to SayLevel 3
- -des FormWhile Doing (-des)Level 3
- lasLetting Someone (Las)Level 3
- selleks etIn Order to (Selleks Et)Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice da-Infinitive in Bubblegum
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