kogunevaid

Kogunevaid is a morphological form in Estonian grammar. It is the partitive plural present active participle of the verb kogunema, meaning “to gather.” As a participle, it functions primarily as an attributive descriptor, modifying nouns to describe groups or items that are in the process of gathering or accumulating.

Formation and usage

The base form of the participle is kogunev (present active participle). In contexts where the noun it describes is in the partitive case and the subject is plural, the form kogunevaid is used. This form agrees with the modified noun in number and case. Common usages include phrases such as kogunevaid inimesi ("gathering people") or kogunevaid rahvahulki ("gathering crowds"), where the participle conveys ongoing action and simultaneity with the noun it modifies.

Grammatical notes

- Kogunevaid is typically employed in noun phrases rather than as a standalone predicate. It signals ongoing gathering and is most natural with plural nouns in partitive or related constructs.

- It is one of several Estonian present active participles formed from kogunema; others include singular forms like kogunev, each with distinct agreement patterns depending on the noun they accompany.

Context and semantics

In written Estonian, kogunevaid helps evoke a sense of process or activity, emphasizing that a group or collection is in the act of forming. It can appear in descriptive prose, news reports describing crowds, and other contexts where the dynamic nature of gathering is relevant. The form contributes to precise, economical expression by combining action and reference in a single modifier.

See also

Estonian grammar; Participles; Partitive case.