Symbolisiksi

Symbolisiksi is a Finnish grammatical form. It is the translative plural form of the adjective symbolinen, meaning symbolic. The form is used to express a change of state or transformation into something regarded as symbolic, typically in clauses with verbs of becoming such as muuttua (to become) or tulla (to come/to become).

Usage and formation:

Symbolisiksi indicates that multiple subjects or objects are becoming symbolic. It is the plural counterpart to symboliseksi, which would be used for a singular subject. The translative case in Finnish marks a change of state, not a static attribute, and symbolisiksi is the standard plural form when describing that change for more than one item or entity. The form can appear in predicates following verbs of change, as well as in constructions that express interpretation or categorization into a symbolic class.

Examples:

- Kokoelmat muuttuivat symbolisiksi. (The collections became symbolic.)

- Käsite voidaan tulkita symbolisiksi. (The concept can be interpreted as symbolic.)

- Taiteilijat pyrkivät tekemään teoksistaan symbolisiksi. (The artists aim to make their works symbolic.)

Notes:

Symbolisiksi is distinct from symbolisesti, which is an adverb meaning “symbolically,” and from symbolinen, the base adjective meaning “symbolic.” As a translative form, symbolisiksi is primarily found in contexts describing transformations or reinterpretations of plural subjects or objects into something regarded as symbolic.

See also:

Finnish grammar, translative case, adjective declension, Finnish syntax.