tegevusõnast

Tegevusõna, also known as a verb, is a fundamental part of Estonian grammar. It expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being. Tegevusõnad are essential for constructing sentences and conveying meaning. They can be conjugated to indicate tense, mood, voice, person, and number, allowing for a wide range of expression.

The core function of a tegevusõna is to describe what a subject is doing or what is happening. For example, in the sentence "Laps jookseb," the tegevusõna "jookseb" (runs) describes the action of the subject "laps" (child). Tegevusõnad can be transitive, requiring a direct object, or intransitive, not requiring one. "Sööma" (to eat) is transitive, as in "Ma söön õuna" (I eat an apple), while "magama" (to sleep) is intransitive, as in "Ta magab" (He/She sleeps).

Estonian verbs have various forms, including infinitive, past tense, present tense, and participles. The infinitive form typically ends in -ma or -da. For instance, "lugema" (to read) and "näitama" (to show). Understanding the different conjugations and forms of tegevusõnad is crucial for accurate and fluent communication in Estonian. They are the engine of sentences, providing the dynamic element that brings them to life.