ajalause

Ajalause is a grammatical term used in Estonian linguistics to denote a subordinate clause that expresses temporal relations in relation to the main clause. It is equivalent to the English term “temporal clause” or “time clause.” Ajalause indicates when an action occurs, how long it lasts, or the sequence of events, and it is typically introduced by a subordinating conjunction.

Common subordinating conjunctions for ajalause include kui (when), enne kui (before), pärast kui (after), kuni (until), and sel ajal kui (during the time when). Ajalause can appear before the main clause, after it, or, in some cases, be integrated within the sentence. When the ajalause precedes the main clause, a comma is usually used to separate the clauses.

Examples:

- Kui ta saabub, alustame koosolekut. (When he arrives, we will start the meeting.)

- Ta lõpetas töö pärast seda, kui kolleeg lahkus. (He finished work after the colleague left.)

- Enne kui ta lahkus, ütles ta head meelt. (Before he left, he said goodbye.)

Notes:

The tense and aspect of the verb in the ajalause align with the temporal perspective relative to the main clause; Estonian time expressions in ajalause reflect this relationship through verb forms and aspect rather than a separate auxiliary. The ajalause is a key component of Estonian subordinate clauses and is distinguished from other types such as causal or conditional clauses by its temporal focus.

See also: Subordinate clause, Temporal clause, Estonian grammar.