Passiivsõnavormi

Passiivsõnavormi, often translated as the passive voice, is a grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence receives the action of the verb rather than performing it. In Estonian, the passive voice is typically formed using the auxiliary verb "olema" (to be) in conjunction with the past participle of the main verb. For example, "Raamat loetakse" means "The book is read," where "raamat" (book) is the subject receiving the action of being read. The agent performing the action, if mentioned, is often introduced by the preposition "poolt" (by). Thus, "Raamat loetakse minu poolt" translates to "The book is read by me."

The passive voice is used to emphasize the action or the recipient of the action, or when the performer of the action is unknown, unimportant, or obvious from the context. It can also be used to create a more formal or impersonal tone. While the full passive voice uses "olema" and the past participle, Estonian also has a form often referred to as the "impersonal passive" or "si-passive," which uses the suffix "-takse" or "-takse" attached to the verb stem. For instance, "Seda räägitakse" means "This is spoken" or "It is said." This form conveys a general or unspecified agent. Understanding the nuances of the passive voice is crucial for accurate comprehension and correct usage of Estonian grammar.