kolmandikreegel

The "kolmandikreegel" is a linguistic rule in the Estonian language that pertains to the placement of clauses within a sentence. The term is derived from "kolmandik," meaning "third" or "third part," and "reegel," meaning "rule." This rule guides the typical order of clauses to ensure clarity and natural flow in speech and writing.

According to the kolmandikreegel, in complex sentences, the main clause usually appears before subordinate clauses, especially those indicating time, reason, or condition. Conversely, subordinate clauses such as relative clauses, concessive clauses, or those providing additional information tend to follow the main clause. This ordering facilitates understanding by presenting the central idea first, followed by supplementary details.

For example, in Estonian, a sentence adhering to the kolmandikreegel might be: "Ma lähen poodi, sest vaja on toidukaupu osta," which translates as "I am going to the store because I need to buy groceries." Here, the main clause "Ma lähen poodi" ("I am going to the store") precedes the subordinate clause "sest vaja on toidukaupu osta" ("because I need to buy groceries").

The kolmandikreegel is an important aspect of standard Estonian syntax and assists language learners and writers in constructing clear and grammatically correct sentences. While there may be exceptions depending on emphasis or stylistic choices, the rule provides a guideline for logical clause ordering in formal and written Estonian.