Koristamisel

Koristamisel is Estonian for “during cleaning” or “while cleaning.” It functions as an adverbial or circumstance form built from the verb koristama (to clean) and is used to indicate the time or situation in which another action takes place. The form is typical in procedural, instructional, or descriptive text to set the context of actions.

Formation and grammatical role: The word combines a verbal basis related to cleaning with the suffix -misel, which marks the adessive usage of a non-finite form. In practice, koristamisel introduces a subordinate frame about when something occurs, similar to phrases like “during preparation” or “while washing” in other languages. It is commonly analyzed as an adverbial participle or a gerundial form indicating time or circumstance.

Usage: Koristamisel appears frequently in manuals, safety guidelines, and workplace instructions. It can pair with imperatives or declarative clauses to specify conditions or timing. Examples (simplified):

- Koristamisel tuleb kasutada kaitsevahendeid. (“During cleaning, protectively equipment must be used.”)

- Köögis koristamisel tekib palju tolmu. (“During cleaning in the kitchen, a lot of dust forms.”)

Etymology and related forms: The form is derived from the concept of cleaning, through the verbal noun or gerundial stems, with the -misel suffix marking the adessive case to express time or condition. Related terms include koristamine (the activity of cleaning) and koristus (cleaning as a noun/process).

Notes: Koristamisel is one of several Estonian forms that convey simultaneity or circumstance with a non-finite verb, and its exact nuance can vary with context. It is most natural in formal or instructional text and less common in everyday casual speech.