Välimääruse

Välimääruse is a term originating from Estonian linguistics, referring to an adverbial phrase or an adverbial modifier. It is a word or group of words that functions in a sentence to provide additional information about a verb, adjective, another adverb, or the entire sentence. This additional information typically relates to circumstances such as time, place, manner, reason, purpose, or condition.

In Estonian grammar, välimääruse can be formed by single adverbs (e.g., "kohe" - soon, "seal" - there) or by prepositional phrases that function adverbially (e.g., "koos sõpradega" - with friends, "pärast sööki" - after the meal). These phrases modify the core meaning of the sentence by answering questions like "when?", "where?", "how?", or "why?". For instance, in the sentence "Laps jooksis kiiresti metsa" (The child ran quickly into the forest), "kiiresti" (quickly) is an adverbial modifier describing the manner of running, and "metsa" (into the forest) describes the direction or place.

The accurate identification and use of välimääruse are crucial for constructing grammatically correct and semantically clear Estonian sentences. They enrich the descriptive capacity of language, allowing for nuanced expression of various contexts and relationships within a statement. Understanding their function helps in analyzing sentence structure and in mastering the expressive capabilities of the Estonian language.