ankstesniais

Ankstesniais is a Lithuanian adjective in the instrumental plural form used to describe something associated with a time that precedes the present or a referenced moment. It conveys the sense of “in earlier times” or “in previous years.”

Etymology and form: The word derives from the comparative adjective ankstesnis, meaning previous or former, which itself comes from the root anksti, meaning early. Ankstesniais is the instrumental plural form used with masculine or mixed-gender nouns in the instrumental case, commonly appearing in phrases that denote time, such as years or periods.

Usage and examples: Ankstesniais is frequently found in historical, chronological, or comparative contexts. Common collocations include ankstesniais metais (in previous years), ankstesniais laikais (in earlier times), and similar constructions referring to a time frame prior to the present or to another point of reference. These phrases help situate events or conditions relative to a specified moment.

Grammatical notes: In Lithuanian, adjectives agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case. Ankstesniais is the instrumental plural form used with masculine or mixed-gender nouns in the instrumental case. The feminine instrumental plural form is a different termination, reflecting gender agreement. As with related adjectives, ankstesniais can appear in a wide range of sentences to indicate temporal context.

See also: Lithuanian adjectives, Lithuanian grammar, instrumental case.