liigendina

liigendina is a term used in Estonian linguistics to refer to a grammatical case, specifically the genitive case. The genitive case in Estonian, like in many other languages, primarily indicates possession or belonging. For instance, "maja" (house) in the genitive becomes "maja" (of the house). This form is crucial for constructing phrases that show ownership or a relationship between two nouns.

Beyond possession, the Estonian genitive case has several other functions. It can express the object of certain verbs, particularly those that denote a lack, need, or perception. For example, "Ma tahan raamatut" (I want a book) uses the partitive case, but "Mul pole raamatut" (I don't have a book) uses the genitive. It also appears after certain prepositions and postpositions.

The formation of the genitive case in Estonian is relatively regular, though there are some exceptions and dialectal variations. Singular nouns typically add a specific ending, while plural nouns follow different rules. Understanding the genitive case is fundamental for comprehending Estonian grammar and constructing grammatically correct sentences. Its versatility and widespread use make it a cornerstone of the language's case system.