Määratlevad

Määratlevad is a label used in descriptive Estonian linguistics to refer to a set of words and constructions that determine which particular object is being referred to in a noun phrase. The term is not tied to one fixed part of speech; rather it encompasses demonstratives, possessives, numerals, and certain quantifiers when they serve to specify reference. These elements accompany the noun and help express definiteness or specificity in a language that lacks a dedicated definite article.

In practice, määratlevad appear before the noun and function to identify or narrow down the referent. Examples include demonstratives such as see “this” and need “these,” possessives like minu “my,” and numerals such as kolm “three.” While such elements can also carry additional descriptive meaning, in the role of määratlevad their primary purpose is to specify which entity is being talked about rather than to describe its properties alone. The exact scope and terminology can vary between grammars, and some scholars prefer to use terms like determiners or definite markers or to separate out specific subtypes.

Määratlevad are contrasted with non-defining modifiers, which describe attributes without changing which entity is intended. Their study sheds light on how Estonian signals referential identity and definiteness without articles and how noun phrases are structured within sentences. The concept is most commonly encountered in theoretical and descriptive linguistics, rather than in everyday language usage.