The distinction between "lihtne" and "lihtsalt" is a common stumbling block for A2 learners of Estonian. Both words are related but serve different grammatical roles. "Lihtne" is an adjective meaning simple, used to describe nouns. For instance, "See on lihtne lahendus." translates to "This is a simple solution." In contrast, "lihtsalt" is an adverb meaning simply, used to describe verbs or how actions are performed. Consider the sentence "Ma selgitan lihtsalt." which means "I explain simply."
Another example is "Lihtne retsept." or "A simple recipe." vs. "Valmistan seda lihtsalt." or "I prepare it simply." Using "lihtne" when you mean "lihtsalt" can make your sentence grammatically incorrect and change its meaning.
A third instance: "Lihtne probleem." means "A simple problem." Meanwhile, "Lahendan selle lihtsalt." means "I solve it simply."
A typical mistake is using "lihtne" as an adverb. Remember, adjectives like "lihtne" describe nouns, while adverbs like "lihtsalt" modify verbs.
To practice, try to create sentences using both words. Notice the role each one plays in the sentence's structure. For more practice on Estonian adjective and adverb usage, visit https://keelix.ee/modules.