Märgatavaid

Märgatus or “märgatavaid” is the partitive plural form of the Estonian adjective märgatav, meaning “noticeable” or “worthy of notice.” It is used to describe plural nouns in the partitive case, indicating that the described features are perceptible or noticeable in a given context, without specifying exact quantity.

Formation and usage: In Estonian, adjectives agree with the nouns they modify in number and case. For adjectives ending in -av (as märgatav does), the partitive plural form is märgatavaid. This form is common in academic writing and journalism when listing perceptible differences, features, or factors, particularly in contexts where an indefinite amount or extent is implied.

Examples:

- Uuringus leiti märgatavaid erinevusi kahe meetodi vahel. (In the study, noticeable differences between the two methods were found.)

- Märgatavaid tegureid tuleb arvesse võtta. (Notable factors must be taken into account.)

Nuance: märgatav describes something perceptible, while märkimisväärne describes something significant or noteworthy. Therefore märgatavaid does not by itself imply high importance; it emphasizes perceptibility or visibility rather than inherent significance.

See also: related Estonian adjective forms and the broader system of Estonian adjective declension, including other partitive plural forms for -av adjectives.