Loendatakse

Loendatakse is an Estonian verb form that translates roughly to "is counted" or "are counted." It represents the present tense passive (unmarked agent) of the verb loendada, which means to count or to enumerate. In use, loendatakse is employed when the actor performing the counting is unknown, unimportant, or deliberately omitted, and the emphasis is on the counting action itself rather than who performs it.

The form is common in formal and official writing, such as statistical reports, censuses, inventories, and other documents that describe processes of determining numbers. It communicates that a quantity or set of items is being tallied or enumerated, without specifying the person or organization doing the counting. Its impersonal character makes it suitable for general statements about procedures and results.

In terms of grammar, loendatakse is a finite verb in the present tense and passive voice. The subject of the sentence is the thing that is being counted, while the agent is not expressed. This construction is characteristic of Estonian where passive forms frequently convey processes and outcomes without naming actors.

Examples:

- Käesolevas uuringus loendatakse vastajaid. (In this study, respondents are counted.)

- Andmete kogumisel loendatakse esinemissagedusi. (When collecting data, frequencies are counted.)

Loendatakse can be contrasted with active equivalents that specify the actor, or with other passive forms that convey different times or aspects. It remains a standard tool for presenting numerical procedures in Estonian, particularly in data-focused and administrative contexts.