If you would look up some basic verbs from a dictionary, let's say 'to come' or 'to go', you would notice something common with them - they end with syllable 'ma'. For example the translation of 'to come' and 'to go' would be respectively tulema and minema.  The form with this ending is called ma-infinitive. And that's the basic form for Estonian verbs and that is how you could recognize them in a dictionary. Yet there is so much more to the verbs than this basic form.

Now let me introduce the concept of conjugating the verbs. I am afraid that most people would have no idea how to conjugate the verbs. Yet it is quite simple and done in English all the time. If I see something funny I laugh. And if I find it very funny I would be still laughing. Later I would comment that I laughed out loud. As you see the verb laugh has different forms, derived easily by adding an ending to the basic form. That's what conjugating means - adding ending to the verb to express various things, but mostly different tenses, i.e. times when something took place.

In English conjugation is a piece of cake. At least that's how I felt. In Estonian it's so-so. But in Russian, you may need some Molotov cocktail (ok, just a joke!).

When you're set conjugating the verb in Estonian you get ma-infinitve of the verb. Let's use 'olema' and 'vaatama' (to look) here. To start your endeavour you get rid of 'ma' at the end, which results in 'ole' and 'vaata'. That's all what you need for now to conjugate these verbs in present tense (olevik). Only thing left to do is to add the right endings.

For the right ending you determine the person you're talking about - is it yourself, someone else, a group. Let me remind that in Estonian we have three singular (sg.) persons (I - ma, you - sa, he/she/it - tema) and three plural (pl.) persons (we - me, you - te, they -nad). In present tense each person has specific ending. Please view the table below.

PRESENT TENSE - OLEVIK

Ole/ma - to be

PRESENT TENSE - OLEVIK

Vaata/ma - to look

Ok, it was just a rule. As you know rules always have exceptions. For example, in many languages the verb ‘to be’ has a variety of forms (I am, you are, he/she/it is, etc.).  As you saw, the verb 'to be' has some exceptions in Estonian as well. In Estonian, gradation, i.e. root change, also plays pretty important role. Usually the words with gradation in the root have 1st singular person of present (olevik) tense listed in the dictionary.

TIP: For practice find some basic verbs and conjugate them in Estonian. Use a dictionary. If you want to cheat use Eesti keele süntesaator (Estonian language synthesizer) which is set to provide you with different conjugations. Unfortunately some Estonian wizards have a cruel sense of humour - how would you otherwise explain why they haven't translated this tool.

Anyways you would enter your word in the box and then proceed. For verbs you would use the right column titled Pöördsõna (Verb). The next thing you would specify is Isik (person), use the relevant pronoun as a clue. Check as many boxes you wish. In the next section titled Aeg (Tense) check olevik (present tense). Next, specify Kõneviis (mode of speech). Here you have four options but for time being check only Kindel (Indicative) and go to the bottom of the page and click on Süntees (Synthesize). Please note the instruction above relates to present tense only.

You need to have the umlaut letter right. Get these with Windows XP as follows: Start button on your desktop > All programs > Accessories > System tools > Character Map