Alternatiivseteks

Alternatiivseteks is an Estonian grammatical form: it is the translative plural form of the adjective alternatiivne, used with plural nouns in the translative case to mean “as alternatives” or “to be used as alternatives.” This construction is common in formal or written Estonian, especially in contexts where several options are being presented or evaluated.

Usage and function

The phrase is used when listing or describing options that are considered as alternatives to another choice. It appears in reports, analyses, proposals and policy documents. By marking the described items as alternatives, the writer signals that these options are not the main or mandatory path but potential courses of action that can be chosen instead of something else.

Morphology

Alternatiivseteks is formed by attaching the translative plural suffix to the stem alternatiivne. It is used with plural nouns in the translative case, for example: alternatiivseteks lahendusteks (as alternative solutions), alternatiivseteks variantideks (as alternative variants), alternatiivseteks võimalusteks (as alternative options).

Examples

Dokumendis esitati mitmeid alternatiivseteks lahendusteks mõeldud kavandeid. The document presented several proposals intended as alternative solutions.

Uuringus võrreti erinevaid alternatiivseteks võimalusteks peetud meetmeid. The study compared several measures treated as alternative options.

Notes

Alternatiivseteks is primarily a formal, descriptive device in Estonian grammar and usage. It is not a standalone concept, but a grammatical form used to characterize nouns in a specific syntactic role.