Pakolliseksi

Pakolliseksi is the translative form of the Finnish adjective pakollinen, meaning obligatory or mandatory. It is used to describe a change of state, indicating that something becomes obligatory. In Finnish grammar, the translative case (-ksi) expresses transition or becoming into a certain condition, so pakolliseksi literally means “to become mandatory.”

Usage and construction

Pakolliseksi is typically used with verbs that express becoming or making something so, such as tulla, tehdä or muuttua. The subject of the sentence is the thing that gains the status of being mandatory, while the predicate describes its new status. The plural form in the translative is pakollisiksi, used when several items or courses become mandatory.

Common contexts

The word is common in legal, educational, and policy writing, where regulations or curricula are described as becoming mandatory. It contrasts with pakollinen, which simply means that something is obligatory, without implying a change of state.

Examples

Koulun opetussuunnitelmassa terveystiedon kurssi on tehty pakolliseksi. (In the school curriculum, the health education course has been made mandatory.)

Uudessa lainsäädännössä koulutuksen suorittaminen tulee pakolliseksi. (In the new legislation, completing the education becomes mandatory.)

Joissakin ohjelmissa käytäntö muuttuu pakolliseksi osaksi opintoja. (In some programs, the practice becomes a mandatory part of studies.)

Notes

Pakolliseksi is a formal term and is most at home in written and official Finnish. Its usage clearly signals a shift in obligation status, rather than describing an already mandatory condition.