Palutakse

Palutakse is an Estonian verb form that conveys a passive, impersonal sense of “it is asked” or “one asks.” It comes from the verb paluma/paluda, meaning to ask or to request, and is used when the agent making the request is unknown or deliberately left unspecified. In formal or public communication, palutakse often functions as a courteous alternative to a direct imperative.

Grammatically, palutakse is the present passive form. Estonian forms the passive with the suffix -akse (or -takse in some contexts), producing a construction that does not specify who performs the action. This makes palutakse appropriate for notices, guidelines, and official statements where a neutral, impersonal tone is desired. The base verb can be paluda or paluma, depending on nuance, but in practice palutakse appears as the standard passive form associated with requesting actions.

Usage and register are key to understanding palutakse. It is common in formal writing, public notices, forms, and instructions where a request is being communicated rather than a command issued to a specific person. It signals politeness and distance, and it often coexists with concomitant directives or conditions in the text. In everyday language, speakers may prefer more direct phrases such as “palume” (we ask) or explicit imperatives.

Examples include: “Palutakse järgida turvareegleid” (It is requested to follow the safety rules), “Palutakse esitada dokumendid” (Please submit the documents), and “Palutakse mitte hilineda” (Please do not be late). The form helps maintain a formal, courteous tone in Estonian communication.