Finnish - Word Cases - Locative (expressing place)



Part one of this article - describing the Cases expressing Grammatical Functions. Part three: Others Part four: Non-productive

Locative cases (expressing place) - internal locations (in)

Inessive

Meaning/function: in, inside, etc (STA) Ending: -ssa/ -ssä Example: hotelissa, puolessa, tunnissa Examples: I am in the/a hotel now. - Olen nyt hotellisa.

I will be in the restaurant in half an hour. - Olen puolessa tunnissa ravintolassa.

Elative

Meaning/function: from, out of (DYN), as a complement of some verbs Ending: -sta / -stä Example: hotellista Examples: I am leaving the hotel now. - Lähden nyt hotellista.

Illative

Meaning/function: into, to, etc (DYN) as a complement of some verbs Ending: -Vn; -hVn Example: hotellin Examples: I just came into the hotel. - Minä tulin juuri hotellin. I immediately took a liking to this hotel. - Ihastuin tähän hotelliin heti.

Locative cases (expressing place) - external locations (on)

Adessive

Meaning/function: on (STA), instrument, possession, (dative) time Ending: -lla/ -llä Example: kadulla, taksilla, minulla, illalla/talvella Examples:

I'll wait on the street. - Odotan kadulla. I'll come by taxi. - Tulen taksilla. I have a car. - Minulla on auto. I'll come in the evening/in the winter. - Tulen illalla/talvella.

Ablative

Meaning/function: from (DYN) source Ending: -lta/ -ltä Example: kadulta, johtajalta Examples: The bus leaves from this street. - Bussi lähtee tälta kadulta. I heard it from the manager. - Kuulin sen johtajalta.

Allative

Meaning/function: onto (DYN), to, etc. Recipient. Ending: -lle Example: Kadulle, hänelle Examples: The bus comes to this street. - Bussi tulee tälle kadulle. I'll tell him (that). - Kerron sen hänelle.