möödumisel

Möödumisel is an Estonian grammatical form derived from the verb mööduma, meaning to pass or elapse, and from the noun möödumine, which denotes the act or process of passing. The suffix -misel marks the adessive form of this noun, used to express a temporal relation in clauses. In practice, möödumisel corresponds roughly to the English “as time passes,” “upon the passing,” or “during the elapse of.”

Usage and function:

Möödumisel is used to introduce adverbial clauses of time or circumstance, placing emphasis on the passage of time rather than on a specific moment. It appears in formal or literary constructions and can link to other actions and states that occur as time proceeds. The construction often contrasts with other ways of marking time, such as conjunctions or different case forms, depending on the desired nuance.

Examples:

- Aja möödumisel muutusid tingimused. (As time passed, conditions changed.)

- Möödumisel öö ja päeva vahel tekkis uus võimalus. (During the passing of night and day, a new opportunity arose.)

Relationship to related forms:

The base noun möödumine (“the passing” or “elapse”) and the verb mööduma are the core elements. Möödumisel is one of several inflected forms used to indicate time, with other cases or participial constructions offering alternative ways to express temporal relations.

See also:

möödumine, mööduma, temporal clauses in Estonian grammar.