Translatiivivormiga

Translatiivivormiga refers to the translative form in Estonian grammar. The translative is a grammatical form used to express a change of state or transformation into something, often corresponding to the English “to become” or “in the capacity of.” It is commonly used with nouns and adjectives, and it frequently occurs in predicative constructions or in clauses describing a new state resulting from a change.

Formation and variation: The translatiiv is formed by adding a suffix to the word stem. The suffix type varies depending on the word’s form and phonological harmony, so you may encounter endings such as -aks, -eks, -oks, or -uks in practice. Examples include õppamaan becomes õppajaks (teacher), noor becoming nooreks (young), and roheline becoming roheliseks (green). The exact ending is determined by customary Estonian phonology and the stem’s ending.

Functions and usage: The translativ expresses turning into something or someone, a change of condition, or a role or capacity. It is often used with verbs of becoming (saama, muutuma) and in predicative phrases to denote what someone or something becomes, not just what they are. It can answer questions like “kelleks?” (as whom) or “millega?” in the sense of a new state.

Examples:

- Ta sai õpetajaks. (He became a teacher.)

- Laps kasvas nooreks. (The child grew older.)

- Auto muutus roheliseks. (The car became green.)

Notes: While translatiivivormiga is a distinct grammatical form, its use is closely tied to the idea of transformation or new function. The form must agree with the word it modifies in number and, to some extent, in stylistic nuance.