vaatlevad

Vaatlevad is a verb form in Estonian. It represents the third-person plural present tense of the verb vaatlema, which means to observe, watch, or monitor. As a finite verb form, vaatlevad is used to describe actions carried out by a subject in the present.

Morphology and usage: Vaatlevad is built from the verb stem vaatle- plus the present tense suffix -vad. It is used with subjects such as nad (they) or other plural noun phrases. The form is transitive and can take a direct object in the partitive case, for example: Nad vaatlevad olukorda (They are observing the situation) or Nad vaatlevad andmeid (They are monitoring the data). In Estonian, present-tense forms like vaatlevad convey simple present aspect rather than a distinct continuous aspect; the context often indicates the ongoing nature of the action.

Etymology and related forms: The word comes from vaatlema, the infinitive meaning to observe. Related forms include vaatlev (present participle/adjective, meaning observing) and alternative finite forms such as vaatleb (present singular) and vaatles (past tense forms) depending on person and number. The verb is commonly used in descriptive, analytical, and reporting prose to describe processes of watching, inspecting, or supervising.

Examples:

- Nad vaatlevad olukorda ja koostavad aruandeid. (They are observing the situation and preparing reports.)

- Organisatsioon vaatlevad andmeid enne otsuste tegemist. (The organization monitors the data before making decisions.)

In summary, vaatlevad is a standard Estonian present-tense form signifying that a group is actively observing or monitoring something. It functions as a regular verb form within its grammatical constraints.