Töötamast

Töötamast is a non-finite form of the Estonian verb töötama, meaning “to work.” It is one of the non-finite verb forms used to express adverbial or circumstantial meaning in sentences. In grammar discussions, töötamast is often described in terms of different traditional labels, with some grammars calling it the third infinitive or an adverbial participle (converb), while others place it among specialized non-finite variants of the infinitive.

Morphology and formation: The form tööstamast is built by adding the suffix -amast to the stem of the verb, here stemmed as tööt-. This yields the non-finite form usually used in contexts that do not require a finite verb. Because Estonian non-finite forms can be analyzed in multiple ways, töötamast is discussed within the broader framework of the language’s non-finite verb forms, including the infinite -ma forms and other converbs.

Usage and function: Töötamast typically serves an adverbial function, indicating circumstances related to the action of the main clause. It can express simultaneity or other circumstantial relations, and its exact translation into English depends on context (for example, it may correspond to “while working” or “by working”). In practice, töötamast appears more in formal, literary, or historical registers and is less common in everyday spoken Estonian.

Relationship to other forms: The existence of töötamast illustrates the richness of Estonian non-finite morphology, where several endings and configurations can convey related ideas about time, manner, or cause without a finite clause. Different grammars may categorize töötamast slightly differently, but all recognize its role as a non-finite form linked to the verb töötama.

See also: töötama, infinitive forms in Estonian, non-finite verb forms, converb.