Eritumisel

Eritumisel is an Estonian linguistic term that refers to an adverbial, nominalized form derived from the verb eritumine. It expresses the time or context in which the action of the main clause occurs, roughly corresponding to English expressions such as “in the process of” or “while.”

Formation and function are central to its understanding. The form is created by turning a verb into a verbal noun with the -mise suffix and then inflecting it into a circumstantial, non-finite variant, which yields eritumisel. In this role, eritumisel behaves as a circumstantial modifier that furnishes temporal or situational background for the main clause. It does not introduce a new subject or separate clause; instead, it situates the action of the main verb within a particular process or moment.

Usage and nuance are context-dependent. Eritumisel is found in descriptive and technical Estonian writing and can appear in both narrative and expository texts. Its semantic range depends on the base verb from which it is derived, covering activities from physical procedures to mental or procedural tasks. The exact interpretation—such as “during separation,” “in the process of removing,” or similar senses—hinges on the lexical meaning of the root verb.

Relation to broader grammar. Eritumisel is part of Estonian’s system of verbal nouns and adverbial forms that signal time, manner, or condition. It exemplifies how verbs can be nominalized and then further inflected to express circumstantial information.

See also: Verbal noun (Estonian), Adverbial participle, Estonian grammar.