tõmbab

Tõmbab is the third-person singular present tense form of the Estonian verb tõmbama, meaning to pull or to draw. The sense of tõmbama covers physical pulling, drawing in a direction, as well as drawing on something like air or smoke. It is also used in metaphorical expressions to describe drawing attention or attracting something.

In grammar, tõmbab is a transitive verb form used with a direct object in most senses (for example, ta tõmbab köie — he pulls the rope). The infinitive is tõmbama, and the simple past tense is tõmbas. Participles include tõmmatud (pulled) and tõmbav (pulling). The verb forms into imperatives as tõmba (singular) and tõmmake (plural or polite). The verb can also appear in reflexive or periphrastic constructions when describing actions that relate to the subject.

Usage examples illustrate its range: ta tõmbab köie (he pulls the rope); ta tõmbab suitsu (he takes a drag on a cigarette); see uudis tõmbab tähelepanu (this news draws attention). In these senses, the direct object can be a tangible thing, a cigarette, or an abstract target like attention. Metaphorically, tõmbab is commonly used to indicate attracting or drawing in people, resources, or interest.

The word is a native Estonian verb, part of everyday language, and its various forms are essential for describing both concrete actions and figurative effects. Related forms include tõmbamine (pulling, the act of pulling) and other inflected variants of tõmbama.