Vähendavate

Vähendavate is the genitive plural form of the Estonian adjective vähendav, meaning reducing or diminishing. It is used to describe nouns in contexts where the noun is in the genitive case, typically in noun phrases that name processes, factors, actions or measures that cause a reduction. Examples include phrases such as vähendavate toimingute mõju (the effect of reducing actions) or vähendavate meetmete rakendamine (the implementation of reducing measures). The form agrees with the noun it modifies in number and case; the nominative plural would be vähendavad toimingud, while the genitive plural is vähendavate toimingute.

Origin and morphology: vähendav is formed from the verb vähendada, meaning to reduce, with the present participle suffix -v. In Estonian, attributive adjectives display case and number agreement with the noun they modify, and the genitive plural form of such an adjective is typically produced with the ending -avate. Thus, vähendavate corresponds to the genitive plural modifying nouns such as toimingute, meetmete, or tegurite in phrases describing reducing or diminishing processes.

Usage notes: The form is common in technical, scientific, and policy-oriented Estonian writing, where precise qualification of processes, factors or measures is required. It is not a standalone tense or verb; rather, it is a grammatical form that enables the expression of relationships between a reducing concept and the noun it describes. Speakers should ensure concord with the target noun’s case and number to maintain clarity.

See also: vähendav, vähendada, Estonian participial adjectives.