määräsõnu

Määräsõnu are adverbs in the Estonian language. They function to modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or entire sentences, providing information about time, place, manner, degree, or cause. These words are essential for adding detail and nuance to descriptions and actions.

Adverbs in Estonian can be formed from adjectives by adding the suffix "-lt" or "-sti". For example, the adjective "kiire" (fast) can form the adverb "kiirelt" (quickly). Some adverbs are inherent and do not derive from other word classes, such as "siin" (here) or "nüüd" (now).

The placement of adverbs in Estonian sentences is relatively flexible, though they often appear before the word they modify. However, their position can shift for emphasis or stylistic reasons. For instance, "Ta jookseb kiiresti" (He runs quickly) is common, but "Kiiresti jookseb ta" can be used to highlight the manner of running.

Määräsõnu can be categorized based on the type of information they convey. Temporal adverbs indicate when something happens (e.g., "hommikul" - in the morning, "hiljem" - later). Local adverbs specify where an action takes place (e.g., "üles" - up, "seal" - there). Modal adverbs describe how an action is performed (e.g., "hästi" - well, "valesti" - wrongly). Degree adverbs indicate the intensity or extent of something (e.g., "väga" - very, "liiga" - too). Causal adverbs explain the reason for something (e.g., "seepärast" - therefore). Understanding and using määräsõnu effectively is crucial for fluent and precise communication in Estonian.