vastata

Vastata is an Estonian verb meaning to answer, to respond, or to reply. It is a regular verb of the -ta conjugation class and forms its present tense with standard personal endings (ma vastan, sa vastad, ta vastab, me vastame, te vastate, nad vastavad).

Etymology and related forms: Vastata derives from the Finnic root vast-, related to Finnish vastata. The verb shares its basic meaning with cognate forms in related Finnic languages and is used across formal and informal contexts in Estonian.

Usage and syntax: Vastata is typically used to provide a response to a question, statement, or request. It commonly takes a recipient in the dative case (for example, vastan sulle = I answer you) and can refer to answering a specific question (vastan küsimusele) or addressing a topic or claim (vastan sellele väitele). It can be combined with different time expressions to indicate present or near-future responses.

Conjugation and related forms: The present tense forms are ma vastan, sa vastad, ta vastab, me vastame, te vastate, nad vastavad. The imperative forms are vasta (singular) and vastake (plural). The noun forms include vastamine (the act of answering) and vastus (an answer).

Examples: Ma vastan küsimusele. Kas sa vastad mulle? Ta vastab sellele väitele.

Vastata is a common, versatile verb in Estonian, essential for everyday communication and written discourse, and it vendors a straightforward set of conjugations typical of its verb class.