prepositsioonilise

Prepositsioonilise is the genitive singular form of the Estonian adjective prepositsiooniline, meaning “related to a preposition” or “prepositional.” In linguistic and grammatical contexts it is used to describe constructions that involve a preposition, such as prepositsioonilised fraasid (prepositional phrases) or prepositsiooniline kasutus (prepositional use).

In Estonian, adjectives decline to show case, number, and gender. When referring to a noun in the genitive singular, prepositsiooniline takes the form prepositsioonilise. This enables phrases like prepositsioonilise fraasi tähendus (the meaning of the prepositional phrase) or prepositsioonilise konstruktsiooni omadused (the properties of the prepositional construction). The form is common in grammar textbooks, linguistic articles, and dictionaries that discuss syntax and phrase structure.

Usage examples illustrate its function as a modifier within linguistic descriptions rather than as a standalone term. A typical sentence might describe a pattern: “Prepositsioonilise fraasi kasutus väljendab kohta, aega või suunda.” Here the adjective explicitly characterizes the noun as belonging to the category of prepositional phrases. The term is mainly encountered in scholarly or descriptive writing about Estonian syntax and general linguistics, rather than in ordinary speech.

Etymology and related terms: prepositsiooniline derives from the noun prepositsioon (preposition) plus the Estonian adjective-forming suffix -iline. Related terms include prepositsiooniline konstruktsioon (prepositional construction) and prepositsiooniline tähendus (prepositional meaning). See article reflects the role of the form as a grammatical descriptor within Estonian grammar. See also preposition, prepositional phrase, Estonian grammar.