alamssõnade

alamssõnade is a term used in Estonian linguistics. It refers to a type of subordinate clause that modifies a noun or pronoun within a main clause. These clauses function similarly to adjectives or appositives in other languages. They provide additional information about the noun or pronoun they are attached to.

These subordinate clauses are typically introduced by relative pronouns such as "kes" (who/which, for animate subjects), "mis" (which/that, for inanimate subjects or general reference), or "keda" (whom/which, accusative case). They can also be introduced by relative adverbs like "kus" (where) or "millal" (when), depending on the nature of the modification.

For example, in the sentence "Mees, kes seisab seal, on minu onu" (The man who stands there is my uncle), "kes seisab seal" is an alamssõnade clause modifying "mees" (man). Similarly, "Raamat, mis lebab laual, on väga vana" (The book that lies on the table is very old) features "mis lebab laual" as an alamssõnade modifying "raamat" (book).

The grammatical function of these clauses is crucial for understanding the precise meaning of the main sentence. They are an integral part of complex sentence structures in Estonian, allowing for detailed descriptions and specifications. Understanding alamssõnade is therefore essential for both reading and writing accurate Estonian.