amiseks

The suffix -amiseks is a productive derivational suffix in Estonian grammar used to form nouns that express the purpose of an action. Words formed with -amiseks translate roughly as "for the purpose of" or "in order to" in English. The suffix attaches to verb stems to create a non-finite noun form that can function in clauses indicating purpose.

Common examples include lugemiseks (for reading), õppimiseks (for studying), and kirjutamiseks (for writing). These forms are used to express intent within a sentence, often preceding a verb or combining with a main clause to specify why an action is undertaken. For instance, in the sentence Ma lähen raamatukokku õppimiseks, the phrase õppimiseks conveys the purpose of going to the library.

Morphology and usage: -amiseks is a nominalizing suffix that interacts with Estonian verb stems to produce a purpose-related noun. It is widely used in both spoken and written language and is especially common in expressions of planned or required activities. The construction is flexible and can appear with various verbs to indicate different aims, such as studying, reading, writing, or other future actions.

Relation to other forms: The -amiseks construction contrasts with more direct infinitives and with other nominalizations that express aspect or nominal content. It is a standard element of Estonian grammar and is typically introduced in intermediate language studies as a key tool for expressing purpose without explicitly using conjunctions like "et" or "et... teha."