Essiiviin

The essive, or essivi, is a Finnish grammatical case used to express a temporary state or a role. It is often translated into English with the word as, meaning “in the capacity of” or “as.” It is one of several cases that attach to the noun stem to convey its grammatical function.

Formation and forms: In the singular, the essive is formed with the suffix -na or -nä, depending on vowel harmony. Example: opettaja → opettajana (as a teacher); ystävä → ystävänä (as a friend). In the plural, the suffix is -ina or -inä: opettajat → opettajina (as teachers); ystävät → ystävinä (as friends). The choice between -na/-nä and -ina/-inä follows the stem’s last vowels, a feature of Finnish vowel harmony.

Usage and meaning: The essive denotes a temporary state or a role during a period of time. It is commonly used with the verb olla (to be) to describe “being in the role of” or “being in the state of.” Examples: Hän on opettajana. (She is a teacher / in the role of a teacher.) He ovat ystävinä. (They are friends / as friends.) It can also express a state from the past, as in lapsena (as a child). The essive contrasts with the translative, which marks a change of state or transition into a new role, as in hänestä tulee opettaja → hänestä tulee opettajaksi (he becomes a teacher).

Notes: Theessive is one of several cases that express state, role, or quality in Finnish. Its precise form depends on the noun’s stem and vowel harmony, and it participates in the nuanced system that distinguishes being in a state (essive) from becoming or turning into that state (translative).