tegevusnime

Tegevusnimi is an Estonian linguistic term that refers to a specific type of verbal noun. It is formed from a verb and functions grammatically like a noun, but it retains some verbal characteristics. The most common way to form tegevusnimi is by adding the suffix "-mine" to the verb stem. For example, from the verb "lugema" (to read), the tegevusnimi is "lugemine" (reading). This form denotes the action of reading itself.

Tegevusnimi can be used in a variety of grammatical constructions. It can act as the subject of a sentence, such as in "Lugemine on kasulik" (Reading is useful). It can also be the object of a verb, as in "Ma armastan lugemist" (I love reading). Furthermore, tegevusnimi can be modified by adjectives or adverbs, and it can take possessive suffixes, indicating who is performing the action. For instance, "minu lugemine" means "my reading."

While "-mine" is the most prevalent suffix, other, less common suffixes exist for forming tegevusnimi, though they are often archaic or dialectal. The concept of tegevusnimi is crucial for understanding Estonian grammar and sentence structure, as it allows for the nominalization of verbal actions, thereby expanding the expressive capabilities of the language. It is a direct equivalent to the gerund in English.