käskvorm

Käskvorm, in Estonian grammar, is the imperative mood used to issue commands, requests, instructions, or directions. It is a direct form of address and is typically directed at the listener. The main everyday usage is in second person singular or plural, but formal or polite forms are also common in certain contexts.

Formation and usage: The exact shape of the käskvorm varies by verb class and can be irregular for some common verbs. In general, the form is built from the verb stem, producing short, clear imperatives such as those used in everyday speech and in signs or manuals. Negative imperatives are formed with the particle ära before the verb, for example, Ära hiline! (Don’t be late). For polite or formal address, Estonian often uses palun with the 2nd person plural form, as in Tehke palun. Imperatives can serve as commands, invitations, or requests and are commonly found in spoken language, written instructions, and public notices.

Characteristics and notes: The käskvorm concentrates on the speaker’s directive and usually omits the subject pronoun, which is understood from context. Its forms differ from indicative and conditional moods, and speakers may adjust tone to be courteous or forceful through word choice, accompanying phrases, or modality markers such as palun. Some verbs have especially frequent or short imperative forms, making them highly recognizable in everyday Estonian.