käsib

Küsib is the third-person singular present tense form of the Estonian verb küsima, which means to ask, inquire, or request information. It is used for stating that someone asks something or seeks information in the current moment.

Etymology and form: Küsima is a common Estonian verb of finite conjugation, and küsib follows the standard present tense pattern in which -ib is the ending for third-person singular. The verb can take various objects, often in partitive form, to indicate what is being asked for, such as teed (tea) or vastuseid (answers). It can also introduce a subordinate clause with conjunctions like kas or question words.

Usage notes: In everyday Estonian, küsib is employed for both simple questions and more formal inquiries. The meaning can extend from asking for a tangible thing to requesting information or clarification. The verb commonly appears in questions reported in direct or indirect speech, and it can pair with different case markings depending on what is asked.

Examples:

- Ta küsib teed. (He asks for tea.)

- Ta küsib, kas sa tuled. (He asks whether you will come.)

- Ta küsib vastuseid. (He asks for answers.)

- Ta küsib mulle midagi. (He asks me for something.)

Related forms: The infinitive küsima denotes the action "to ask." Other conjugated forms share the same root, adapting for person, number, and tense. Küsib is frequently encountered in Estonian dialogue and narrative, reflecting a core communicative function of asking.