Põhilausel

Põhilausel is an Estonian term referring to the main clause in a complex sentence. A complex sentence consists of at least one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses. The põhilausel is the independent part of the sentence, meaning it can stand alone as a complete thought and makes sense by itself. It contains the primary subject and predicate of the overall sentence.

Subordinate clauses, on the other hand, are dependent on the põhilausel and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. They typically provide additional information about the main clause, such as time, cause, purpose, or condition. Subordinate clauses are often introduced by conjunctions like "kui" (if/when), "et" (that), "kuna" (because/since), or relative pronouns.

In Estonian grammar, identifying the põhilausel is crucial for understanding sentence structure and meaning. It forms the core of the sentence around which other elements are organized. For example, in the sentence "Ma lähen koju, sest ma olen väsinud" (I am going home because I am tired), "Ma lähen koju" is the põhilausel, and "sest ma olen väsinud" is the subordinate clause. The põhilausel expresses the main action or state, while the subordinate clause explains the reason for it.