Instrumentaalkäändes

Instrumentaalkäändes refers to the instrumental case in languages that have a dedicated grammatical form for marking the instrument or means by which an action is performed. The term is used in linguistic descriptions, particularly in Estonian-language discussions, to denote the set of noun forms that express instrumentality, means, or manner in doing something. In such systems, the instrumental often contrasts with other cases that mark agent, recipient, or possession.

Across languages with a true instrumental case, the marking is typically realized as a noun inflection or a clitic that attaches to the noun. The exact endings depend on the language, its gender or noun class, and number. For example, in many Slavic languages the instrumental has distinct singular endings and a plural form, and it is used with verbs that describe performing an action with a tool or by means of something. In practice, the instrumental frequently answers questions like “with what?” or “by means of what?”

Not all languages have a separate instrumental case. Some use a combinination of prepositions, adverbs, or other cases to express instrumentality or means. For instance, languages without a productive instrumental form may render “with a pen” through a prepositional phrase or a comitative construction. In Estonian, as a Finnic language, there is no widely described productive instrumental case; instrumentality is often expressed via comitative forms with the suffix -ga or by other periphrastic means.

See also: Instrumental case, grammatical case systems, comitative constructions.