infinitiivipõhine

Infinitiivipõhine refers to a grammatical construction in Estonian where the infinitive form of a verb is used as the subject or object of a sentence, or in other dependent clauses. This is a common feature of Estonian grammar, allowing for concise and flexible sentence structures.

In many cases, the infinitive can stand in for a noun phrase. For example, "Lugema on hea" translates to "Reading is good," where "lugema" (to read) functions as the subject. Similarly, "Ma tahan õppida" means "I want to learn," with "õppida" (to learn) acting as the direct object of "tahan" (want).

The infinitive can also be used in various subordinate clauses, often expressing purpose, result, or condition, though these constructions may involve specific prepositions or case endings following the infinitive. For instance, "Ta tuli selleks, et mind aidata" means "He came in order to help me," where "aidata" (to help) is part of a purpose clause. The specific form of the infinitive used can depend on its grammatical function within the sentence, with different cases and endings being employed. Understanding these infinitiivipõhine structures is crucial for comprehending and speaking Estonian fluently.