Ühendlause

Ühendlause is an Estonian term referring to a type of sentence construction where two or more independent clauses are joined together. These clauses are grammatically complete on their own, meaning each could stand as a separate sentence. In Estonian, ühendlause is typically formed using coordinating conjunctions, such as 'ja' (and), 'aga' (but), 'või' (or), or 'ning' (and). Punctuation, usually a comma, is often placed before the conjunction to separate the clauses.

The purpose of an ühendlause is to connect related ideas or events within a single sentence, creating a smoother flow of thought and avoiding choppiness. For instance, "Päike paistis ja linnud laulsid" (The sun was shining and the birds were singing) is an example of an ühendlause, linking two simple, independent statements. The clauses in an ühendlause are of equal grammatical rank. This contrasts with subordinate clauses, which are dependent on a main clause. Understanding ühendlause is fundamental to mastering Estonian sentence structure and improving written and spoken fluency. It allows for the expression of more complex relationships between ideas within the framework of a single, coherent sentence.