Kvalitatiivsetele

Kvalitatiivsetele is an Estonian grammatical form: it is the dative plural form of the adjective kvalitatiivne, meaning qualitative. It is used when the adjective modifies a plural noun in the dative case, indicating the indirect object, beneficiary, or direction related to qualitative things.

In Estonian, adjectives decline for number, case, and to some extent gender-free agreement with the noun they modify. The form kvalitatiivsetele appears specifically with plural nouns in the dative case. For contrast, the nominative plural is kvalitatiivsed, and the genitive plural is kvalitatiivsete. The singular dative would be kvalitatiivsele.

Kvalitatiivsetele is common in academic and professional writing, especially in fields such as social sciences, research methods, and data analysis. It frequently occurs with nouns such as andmed (data), meetmed (measures), and aruanded (reports). Examples include: Uuringu tulemused põhinevad kvalitatiivsetele andmetele, ja kvalitatiivsetele meetmetele viidatakse analüüsis. Such usage helps specify that the referenced qualitative elements are the objects of discussion or consideration.

Etymology traces kvalitatiivne to Latin-based scientific vocabulary through English and other European languages for qualitative concepts. The form kvalitatiivsetele thus aligns with Estonian adjective inflection patterns and complements the broader spectrum of modality and case marking in Estonian grammar.

See also: kvalitatiivne, kvalitatiivne uurimus, kvalitatiivsetorietused.