Nimisõnavormi

Nimisõnavormi refers to the grammatical form of a noun in Estonian. Nouns in Estonian inflect for case and number, meaning their endings change depending on their function in a sentence and whether they are singular or plural. There are 14 grammatical cases in Estonian, each with its own distinct function and set of endings. These cases indicate relationships such as subject, object, possession, location, and direction. For example, the nominative case is used for the subject of a sentence, while the genitive case is used to show possession. The accusative case often overlaps with the genitive and is used for direct objects. Other cases include the partitive, which denotes a part of something, and various locative cases that indicate different types of location (in, on, at). Understanding nimisõnavormi is crucial for constructing grammatically correct Estonian sentences and comprehending the nuances of the language. The declension of nouns follows specific patterns, though there are some irregular forms. Children learning Estonian grammar are taught these cases and their associated endings systematically. The complex system of noun inflection is a hallmark of the Finnic language family, to which Estonian belongs.