jätkama

Jätkama is an Estonian verb meaning to continue, to carry on, or to resume an action. It is used to describe extending a task or process after a pause or prolonging activity over time. The infinitive form jätkama is formed from the stem jätka- with the common infinitive suffix -ma. The verb denotes both ongoing actions and the renewal of actions after interruption.

Conjugation and forms. As a regular Estonian verb, jätkama follows standard conjugation patterns. Present tense forms are: jätkan (I continue), jätkad (you continue), jätkab (he/she/it continues), jätkame (we continue), jätkate (you continue), jätkavad (they continue). Past tense forms include jätkasin (I continued), jätkasid (you continued), jätkas (he/she/it continued), jätkasime (we continued), jätkasite (you continued), jätkasid (they continued). The past participle is jätkanud, used to form perfect tenses such as olen jätkanud (“I have continued”). The adverbial participle jätkates means “continuing” or “while continuing.” The imperative forms are jätka (singular) and jätkake (plural/formal).

Usage. Jätkama is used for both continuing an activity and resuming something after a pause. It commonly collocates with nouns referring to tasks, projects, or processes, as in continuing work (jätkama tööd) or continuing studies (jätkama õppimist). It can also appear in passive or impersonal constructions, such as Lugu jätkatakse järgmisel nädalal (“The story will be continued next week”). The word is often contrasted with verbs meaning to start or to stop, emphasizing continuity.

Etymology. Jätkama is formed from the stem jätka- and the infinitive suffix -ma. It is related to the noun jätk, meaning continuation or extension, and shares its root with other Estonian words expressing continuation or progression.