püütakse

Püütakse is the present passive form of the Estonian verb püütama, meaning to catch, seize, or capture. In this form it functions to state that something or someone is caught without specifying who performs the action, or when the agent is unknown or unimportant. The verb stem is püüt-, and the ending -akse marks the passive voice in the present tense.

In usage, püütakse is common in everyday language as well as in formal writing, especially in news reporting and descriptive passages. It can refer to catching animals, criminals, or other objects, with the agent often omitted. When the actor is known or needs to be emphasized, Estonian typically uses an active construction or introduces the agent with a by-phrase using a preposition such as poolt (by).

Examples include: Kalad püütakse merest. The fish are caught from the sea. Vargad püütakse öösel linnas. The thieves are caught in the city at night. Püütakse toimepanijad varguse korral. The perpetrators of the theft are caught. These sentences illustrate how püütakse foregrounds the result of catching while leaving the doer unspecified.

Relation to other forms: The active counterpart is püüdma, as in Politsei püüab vargaid (The police catch thieves). The passive püütakse emphasizes the occurrence or outcome of the capture rather than the agent, aligning with standard Estonian grammar for passive constructions. See also Estonian passive voice and püütma.