pöörates

Pöörates is an Estonian grammatical term referring to a non-finite verb form known as the adverbial participle or gerund. It is derived from the verb pöörama, meaning to turn or rotate, and is used to express actions that occur simultaneously with the action of the main clause. The form is commonly found in written Estonian and in more formal contexts.

In use, pöörates functions to introduce an adverbial clause of manner or time, indicating how or under what circumstances the main action takes place. The subject of the gerund is typically understood to be the same as the subject of the main clause, creating a connection between the two clauses without a conjunction. Because it is non-finite, pöörates does not carry its own person or tense.

Formation and variation are tied to Estonian verb conjugation patterns. Pöörates is created from the verb stem pöör- with a suffix that marks the adverbial participle. The form is relatively invariable with respect to person and number, serving primarily as a connector between actions rather than as an independent predicate.

Examples of usage can illustrate its function: Pöörates ringi, ta nägi teda. (Turning around, he saw her/it.) The sentence shows how the gerundive clause provides background action to the main clause. In contemporary speech, pöörates is less common in informal language, where speakers may prefer explicit subordinate clauses formed with conjunctions rather than non-finite forms.

Related concepts include other Estonian non-finite clauses and participles, as well as the broader system of adverbial modifiers in Estonian grammar.