Suhtelause

Suhtelause, in Estonian grammar, is a type of dependent clause that modifies a noun or noun phrase, known as the antecedent. The relative clause provides information about that antecedent and binds to it within the larger sentence. It can express essential identification or simply add supplementary detail.

Formation and function: In Estonian, relative clauses are typically introduced by a relative word such as kes, keda, kelle, mis, mida, kus, or mille. The choice of relative word depends on the antecedent and its role inside the relative clause. The verb inside the relative clause is finite and agrees with its own subject and tense, not with the antecedent. The relative word carries the needed case information for the noun within the clause.

Types: Relative clauses can be restrictive (defining), where the clause specifies exactly which noun is meant, or non-restrictive (non-defining), where the clause adds extra information about the noun. In written Estonian, non-restrictive relative clauses are commonly set off by commas, while restrictive clauses are not always separated by punctuation.

Examples:

- Inimene, kes naeratab, on mu sõber. (The person who is smiling is my friend.)

- Töö, mida ta tegi, oli raske. (The work that he did was hard.)

- Maja, kus ta elas, oli vanem. (The house where he lived was old.)

Notes: Suhtelauseid võib esineda pärast erinevaid nominaale ning need võivad olla kas keskendunud või lisanduva teabena. Mõistmine sõltub jälgimisest, kuidas relative word ja selle käes olev tegusõna on seotud antecedentiga ning kuidas lause üldine tähendus tekib. Suhtelause on üks põhilisi vahendeid, millega muudetakse ja täpsustatakse eestikeelset lausestruktuuri.