Essivimuoto

Essivimuoto, or the essive case, is a Finnish grammatical case used to express a temporary state or role of the subject, typically translated into English as “as” or “in the capacity of.” It describes how someone or something is in a given situation rather than what it becomes.

The essive is formed with the suffixes -na or -nä in the singular and -ina or -inä in the plural. The choice between -na and -nä (and between -ina and -inä) follows vowel harmony, so the suffix aligns with the stem’s vowels. For example, the singular form of the noun imperatively used with olla (to be) can appear as opettajana meaning “as a teacher.” The plural form opettajina means “as teachers.”

Usage notes: the essive commonly occurs with the copula olla to indicate the subject’s role or state, for instance, Hän on opettajana (He is a teacher, in the role of a teacher). It can also describe a temporary condition or appearance, especially with adjectives or nouns used with olla or other linking verbs. It is distinct from the translative case, which marks a change of state or identity (becoming something).

In practice, the essive is a stable feature of Finnish grammar and is generally taught as one of the core cases alongside inessive and translative. It highlights how the subject exists or operates in a given capacity at a particular moment, rather than signaling a permanent identification or transformation.