jooksvaid

Jooksvaid is a term used in Estonian linguistics to describe the present active participle in its plural form, typically functioning as an adjective that characterizes agents performing the action of running. It is most commonly encountered in descriptive or narrative contexts where multiple subjects are actively engaged in running.

Morphology and usage. The form is derived from the verb jooksma (to run) and is realized as jooksvaid in contexts where the participle modifies a plural noun in a case suitable for an attributive description, often in object or complement positions. In practice, jooksvaid can describe people, animals, or animate entities that are currently performing the action of running, emphasizing ongoing activity rather than completed action. A typical example is a sentence like Ma nägin jooksvaid inimesi (I saw running people), where jooksvaid conveys ongoing motion of the noun phrase.

Distribution and style. Jooksvaid is most common in descriptive writing, reportage, and spoken Estonian where vivid motion is desired. In formal prose, writers may prefer other stylistic means to express running, but jooksvaid remains a productive and recognizable form for conveying continuous action by multiple subjects. It is one of several present participle forms that Estonian uses to express aspect and modality in attributive positions.

Related forms. The base participle form is jooksv (present active participle in singular or general usage), with jooksvad and jooksvaid representing plural adaptations aligned with subject quantity and case. Understanding their use helps in parsing sentences where motion and agency are foregrounded in Estonian syntax.

See also: Estonian grammar, participles, aspect in Estonian.