Käändlused

Käändlused are grammatical cases used in some languages, primarily Finnic languages like Estonian and Finnish. They function to express the grammatical function of a noun, pronoun, or adjective within a sentence. Instead of relying solely on prepositions or word order, these languages modify the ending of a word to indicate its relationship to other words.

In Estonian, for example, there are fourteen cases. These cases indicate relationships such as location (in, on, at), direction (to, from), possession, and the object of a verb. Each case has its own set of distinct endings that are added to the stem of the word. For instance, the nominative case is the base form of the word, while the genitive case often indicates possession or is used after certain prepositions. The partitive case, common in Finnish, is used for indefinite quantities or part of something.

The system of käändlused allows for a great deal of flexibility in sentence structure. While word order can still convey meaning, the case endings provide a clear indication of grammatical roles, even if the words are rearranged. Understanding and correctly using these cases is essential for fluency in languages that employ them. The complexity of the case system can be a significant challenge for learners of these languages.