Eesmärkvormina

Eesmärkvormina, meaning "as a target form" in Estonian, is a concept used in Estonian grammar to describe a specific grammatical function. It refers to a noun or pronoun that has been placed in a case that indicates its role as the target or object of an action or a preposition. This contrasts with other grammatical functions where the noun might be the subject, possessor, or an adverbial modifier.

The most common case that functions as an eesmärkvormina is the partitive case, particularly when it denotes the direct object of a transitive verb. For example, in the sentence "Ma loen raamatut" (I am reading a book), "raamatut" is in the partitive case and serves as the eesmärkvormina, indicating what is being read. Similarly, the accusative case can also function as an eesmärkvormina, especially when it indicates a completed action or a specific, identifiable object.

Furthermore, certain prepositions in Estonian govern specific cases that then act as the eesmärkvormina. For instance, the preposition "koos" (with) often requires the genitive case, and the noun in the genitive case following "koos" is its eesmärkvormina. Understanding the eesmärkvormina is crucial for correctly constructing sentences and conveying precise meaning in Estonian, as it clarifies the relationship between different parts of the sentence.