arvama

The Estonian verb 'arvama' is a versatile and fundamental word, primarily translating to 'to think,' 'to suppose,' or 'to opine' in English. It belongs to the category of regular (weak) verbs, which means its conjugation follows a predictable pattern. This makes it relatively easier to learn compared to irregular verbs.

One of the most common uses of 'arvama' is to express personal opinions or beliefs. For example, 'Ma arvan, et see on hea mõte' translates to 'I think that this is a good idea.' It can also be used to indicate a supposition or a guess, such as in 'Ta arvas, et vihma hakkab sadama,' meaning 'He supposed that it would start raining.'

Beyond expressing thoughts and opinions, 'arvama' can also carry the meaning of 'to estimate' or 'to calculate' in certain contexts, especially when combined with other words or used in specific phrases. For instance, 'arvama välja' can mean 'to figure out' or 'to calculate.' However, it's important to note that for direct numerical calculations, more specific verbs like 'arvutama' (to calculate) are often preferred.

In terms of its grammatical forms, 'arvama' follows the standard Estonian verb conjugation. The 'ma-form' infinitive is 'arvama,' which is used after verbs like 'hakata' (to begin) or 'minema' (to go) when expressing an intention or purpose (e.g., 'Ma lähen arvama' - 'I'm going to think/estimate'). The 'da-form' infinitive, 'arvata,' is used after modal verbs (e.g., 'Ma tahan arvata' - 'I want to think') or when the verb is the object of another verb.

The present tense conjugations are straightforward: 'mina arvan' (I think), 'sina arvad' (you think), 'tema arvab' (he/she/it thinks), 'meie arvame' (we think), 'teie arvate' (you [plural] think), and 'nemad arvavad' (they think).

The simple past tense is formed by adding '-sin' to the verb stem for the first person singular, resulting in 'arvasin' (I thought). The imperative form, 'arvaku,' is used to express a command or suggestion for a third person (e.g., 'Ta arvaku!' - 'Let him think!').

Participles are also important. The present active participle 'arvav' means 'thinking' (e.g., 'arvav inimene' - 'a thinking person'). The past active participle 'arvanud' means 'having thought' or 'thought' (e.g., 'arvanud otsus' - 'a thought-out decision'). The present passive participle 'arvatav' means 'estimable' or 'supposable' (e.g., 'arvatav tulemus' - 'an estimable result'), while the past passive participle 'arvatud' means 'thought' or 'supposed' (e.g., 'arvatud summa' - 'the supposed amount').

Understanding 'arvama' and its various forms is crucial for constructing a wide range of sentences in Estonian, particularly those involving expressing opinions, making assumptions, or discussing estimations.