Kõneviisil

Kõneviisil refers to the grammatical mood in Estonian that expresses the speaker's attitude towards the factual nature of a statement or the relationship between the speaker and the listener. It is primarily indicated by verb forms. The most prominent kõneviisil is the indicative mood, which is used for statements of fact and is the default mood in most declarative sentences.

Beyond the indicative, Estonian grammar recognizes other moods that convey different nuances. The imperative mood is used for commands, requests, or prohibitions. For example, "Lugege!" (Read!) is an imperative form. The conditional mood expresses hypothetical situations or possibilities, often translated as "would" or "should" in English. An example is "Ma loeksin" (I would read).

The optative mood, though less common in modern Estonian, historically expressed wishes or desires. Some remnants of this mood can still be found in certain fixed expressions. The interrogative mood, while not always a distinct morphological form, is conveyed through intonation or the use of interrogative words and particles to indicate a question. Understanding kõneviisil is crucial for comprehending the subtle meanings and intentions behind spoken and written Estonian.