mõistmaks

Mõistmaks is an Estonian non-finite verb form derived from the verb mõistma, which means to understand. It is used to express purpose or aim in non-finite clauses and is often translated into English as “in order to understand” or simply “to understand.” The form is created by taking the verb stem mõist- and adding the suffix -maks.

In use, mõistmaks functions as a purposive infinitive. It appears in sentences where the action of the main clause is undertaken with the aim of understanding something, or where the speaker wants to indicate the intended outcome of an action. It does not conjugate for person or number and, like other non-finite verb forms in Estonian, its subject is not explicitly marked within the form itself; the surrounding sentence provides the context for who is performing the action.

Mõistmaks sits alongside other non-finite forms derived from mõistma, such as the standard infinitive mõistma and related noun forms like mõistmine (understanding). The -maks form is particularly associated with purpose clauses and formal or literary style, and it is more common in written Estonian than in casual spoken language.

Overall, mõistmaks is a specialized infinitive used to convey intentional understanding as the goal of an action, reflecting Estonian’s system of non-finite verb forms that express purpose without requiring additional finite verb morphology. See also mõistma, mõistmine, and Estonian non-finite verb forms.