Tuesday, July 24, 2018
ma infinitive
ma infinitive
I have mentioned before about the fact that Estonian verbs have two infinitives, "the -ma forms" and "the -da forms". In this post I would like to discuss the situations in which the -ma forms appear. In a later post I will deal with the -da forms. Note: In Estonian, infinitives are of one form unlike in English where the infinitive comes in two parts, i.e. to read, to speak etc.
Infinitive and Present forms
Oftentimes the stems of the -ma infinitive and the present are different. Compare the following:
luge/ma --- loe/n I read
r��ki/ma --- r��gi/n I speak
taht/ma --- taha/n I want
�ppi/ma --- �pi/n I learn
tead/ma --- tea/n I know
sundi/ma --- sunni/n I force/ compel
pida/ma --- pea/n I have to
The verb go has two completely different stems:
mine/ma --- l�he/n I go
Uses
The -ma infinitive is used with the following verbs:
1) after verbs of motion:
minema, l�hen go ---- tulema, tulen come --- jooksma, jooksen run
s�itma, s�idan ride, drive --- istuma, istun sit --- panema, panen put, set
Ma l�hen jalutama I go (out) for a walk [in order to walk]
Ta jookseb vaatama, mis seal juhtub She runs to see what is happening there.
Me istume laulma We sit in order to sing.
Pane masin k�ima Turn on the machine [Set the machine to go].
2) after these following verbs:
hakkama, hakkan begin --- juhtuma, juhtun happen --- j�tma, j�tan leave (behind)
j��ma, j��n remain --- kutsuma, kutsun invite, call --- k�lbama, k�lban be suitable
pidama, pean have (an obligation) to --- sundima, sunnin force, compel
�petama, �petan teach --- �ppima, �pin learn, study
Ma hakkan kohe minema I will begin to go right away.
J�� seisma! Stop! [Remain in order to stand].
Kutsu lapsed s��ma Call the children to (come and) eat
Sa pead siia tulema You have to come here.
Ma �pin joonistama I am learning to draw.
3) After certain adjectives and participles:
harjunud accustomed, used to --- sunnitud forced, compelled --- n�us willing
osav capable, skilled --- valmis ready
Ma olen valmis aitama I am ready to help.
Ta on n�us tulema S/he is willing [agrees] to come.
Me oleme harjunud k�vasti r��kima We are used to talking loudly.
Source: Juhan Tuldava, Estonian Textbook, 1994
