tuginevad

Tuginevad is an Estonian verb form meaning “they lean on” or “they rely on.” It is the third-person plural present tense of the verb tuginema, which can be used in both literal and figurative senses.

Etymology and form: The verb tuginema originates from the root tug- and the infinitive tuginema. The present-tense third-person plural ending -vad is affixed to the stem to produce tuginevad. This form is used when the subject of the sentence is a plural entity performing the action in the present.

Usage: Tuginevad is common in everyday Estonian and widely used in narrative and descriptive text. In a literal sense, it can describe people physically leaning on something. In a figurative sense, it conveys reliance or dependence on something, such as a person, a group, a resource, or an institution. The form aligns with standard Estonian subject-verb agreement, appearing when the subject is plural.

Grammatical notes: As a finite verb form, tuginevad is inflected for number and person, matching a plural subject in the present tense. It is not a noun or a participle; its function is to express an action carried out by multiple subjects in real time.

See also: tuginema, Estonian verbs, Estonian grammar.

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