pravilima

Pravilima is a linguistic form found in several South Slavic languages, typically described as the instrumental or dative plural form of the noun pravil(o) meaning rule or guideline. It functions as a grammatical marker of means, manner, or basis, and it frequently appears in phrases that indicate actions done in accordance with established guidelines.

Etymology and form: The base is pravilo, from a common Slavic root related to rule or correctness. The ending -ima reflects Slavic plural inflection patterns for certain noun classes in the instrumental or dative case. As a result, pravilima is used in contexts that require marking the means or standard by which something is carried out.

Usage: In Croatian, Serbian, and Bosnian, pravilima is common in formal, legal, educational, and administrative language. It often accompanies prepositions that select the dative or instrumental sense, such as prema pravilima or uz pravilima struke, to indicate that an action follows prescribed rules or standards. It is not a verb; it is a noun form that modifies verbs and actions by specifying the governing rules.

Examples of meaning: Phrases like "raditi pravilima" or "postupati pravilima" express doing something according to the rules, or acting in line with official guidelines. The form helps distinguish actions that are rule-bound from those that are improvised or informal.

See also: pravilo; grammar of Slavic languages; instrumental case; dative case; standardization and guidelines.