valitsetakse

Valitsetakse is a term that appears in Estonian-language linguistics and language-teaching materials as an example of the present passive verb form. It is not widely attested as a standard everyday form in contemporary Estonian, and its status varies among grammars. In educational contexts, valitsetakse is presented to illustrate how the present passive can be formed from a verb meaning “to select” or “to elect.” The form is often described as roughly meaning “it is chosen” or “they are chosen,” depending on the grammatical subject.

Origin and construction: The form is shown as a passive present construction built from a stem related to valita/valitsema, meaning “to choose” or “to elect.” In Estonian, passive forms are commonly formed with suffixes such as -akse or -takse; valitsetakse is cited in some sources as an instance of this pattern. Because of consonant changes and stem variation that occur with different verbs, the exact appearance of the passive in practice can differ across dialects and texts.

Usage and notes: Valitsetakse tends to occur in instructional material, grammatical descriptions, or historical/ dialectal contexts rather than as a standard, everyday usage. Learners are typically advised to consult authoritative grammars for the precise conjugation patterns of specific verbs and to rely on more common passive forms in regular speech, such as other standard passives derived from valita or valitsema.

See also: Estonian language, Estonian grammar, passive voice, valita, valitsema.