õppivatel

Õppivatel is an Estonian grammatical form derived from the participial adjective õppiv, meaning “learning” or “one who learns.” It is the plural oblique form used when referring to a group of learners in certain grammatical contexts. The exact function of this form depends on the clause, but it generally expresses a relationship involving the group of learners, such as direction, recipient, or location related to them.

Morphology and usage are typical of Estonian inflection, where adjectives and participles take different endings to mark case and number. Õppivatel appears in contexts where a plural noun phrase acts as an indirect object, the target of an action, or a location reference. It is most commonly found in written language, including educational texts, curricula, official documents, and linguistic descriptions, rather than in casual spoken Estonian.

In dictionaries and grammars, õppivatel is described as a legitimate inflected form of the participial adjective õppiv. It can be contrasted with other inflected forms of õppiv used for different cases and numbers. The term helps to specify relationships involving learners, such as which group is involved in an action or inquiry. Related forms include other case and number variants of õppiv and the noun counterpart õppija, meaning “learner.”