lõppvorm

Lõppvorm is a linguistic term used in grammar and lexicography to denote the final, inflected form of a word as it appears in sentence structure. It is contrasted with the algvorm, or base form, which is the form typically listed in dictionaries. Lõppvorm can refer to any form that results from inflection, including endings that mark grammatical categories such as case, number, tense, mood, or person. In practice, the term is used in Estonian grammar resources to describe how a word changes across its paradigm.

The concept is applied across parts of speech. For verbs, lõppvormid are the finite, conjugated forms that signal person, number, and tense or mood, for example in present indicative forms. A verb like minema (to go) has several lõppvormid such as the first-person singular form, second-person singular form, and so on (e.g., forms that express “I go,” “you go,” “he/she goes,” “we go,” etc.). These finite forms are the endings that attach to the verb stem to produce grammatically appropriate sentences.

For nouns, adjectives, and other inflected words, lõppvormid refer to the various endings produced by suffixation that express case and number (and, for some parts of speech, other grammatical categories). The exact endings vary by word class and declension or conjugation pattern, and they are typically listed in grammar tables or dictionaries as part of the word’s inflection.

Usage notes: different sources may treat lõppvorm as either a general term for any inflected form or, more narrowly, as the finite verb forms. The concept is fundamental for understanding how Estonian words carry grammatical information in context.