predikatiivselt

Predikatiivselt is an Estonian term describing the predicative use of a word or group of words in a sentence, that is, how a subject’s property or state is stated through a predicative complement after a linking verb. In practice, predikatiivne lisand describes what the subject is or becomes, rather than modifying a noun directly within a noun phrase.

In Estonian grammar, predikatiivne kasutus commonly follows linking verbs such as olema (to be) or saama (to become). The predicative element can be an adjective, a noun, or a pronoun, and it typically conveys a property or a state attributed to the subject rather than describing a noun at the moment of modification. For example, in the sentence Ta on arst (He is a doctor), arst functions as a predicative noun, identifying the subject. In Ta on suur (He/it is big), suur is a predicative adjective describing the subject's size.

Predikatiivselt kasutatavad omadussõnad (predicative adjectives) in Estonian often appear in a base or short form and do not necessarily agree with the subject in case or number in the way attributive adjectives do. Predicative nouns similarly appear in the nominative, reflecting the state or identity of the subject after a linking verb. The distinction between predicative (predikatiivselt) and attributive use helps clarify how properties and identities are presented in sentences.

The concept is relevant for understanding sentence structure, translation, and the difference between describing a noun within a phrase (attributive) and stating a property or identity through a predicate (predicative).