olevikuvormi

Olevikuvorm, or present-tense form, is the finite verb form in Estonian that marks present time. It is used to express actions happening now, habitual actions, and general truths. In Estonian, the present tense is relatively simple: each verb has a present-tense form for each grammatical person, and no auxiliary verb is required in affirmative statements.

Formation and endings: the present tense is built from the verb stem with person-specific endings. A common pattern for many verbs is: 1st person singular -n, 2nd person singular -d, 3rd person singular -b, 1st person plural -me, 2nd person plural -te, and 3rd person plural -vad. Verbs can differ in their stems and some are irregular, producing forms that do not follow the exact pattern. For example, tegema (to do) yields teen, teed, teeb, teeme, teete, teevad; olema (to be) yields olen, oled, on, oleme, olete, on. It is also common for the 3rd person singular and plural to differ from the 1st and 2nd persons, and in some verbs the 3rd person singular and plural can appear identical (as in nad on).

Usage notes: the olevikuvorm is used with time adverbs and in contexts where the present is understood as current or habitual. Negation is formed with ei, as in ma ei tee (I do not do). The present tense can sometimes convey near-future meaning through context or accompanying temporal expressions.

In summary, the olevikuvormi present-tense forms are the core, finite verb forms for Estonian present-time expression, with person-specific endings and some irregular variations across verbs.