Säännöillä

Säännöillä is the plural adessive form of the Finnish noun sääntö, meaning rule or regulation. It literally expresses “on/with the rules” and is used to refer to the rules that apply in a given context. The adessive case often indicates location, presence, or means, so säännöillä signals that actions or conditions are governed by those rules.

In practical use, säännöillä appears in formal, descriptive, or regulatory contexts. It is common in descriptions of games, competitions, organizations, institutions, and legal or procedural frameworks to denote that activities take place under a specific set of rules. The form allows speakers to emphasize the normative framework or the authority of the rules themselves.

Examples:

- Pelin säännöillä pelaaminen on sallittua. (Playing by the game’s rules is allowed.)

- Kilpailun säännöillä on vaikutus osallistumisoikeuksiin. (The competition’s rules affect eligibility.)

- Yrityksen toiminta on säännelty sen säännöillä. (The company’s operations are regulated by its rules.)

Notes:

Säännöillä is the plural adessive of sääntö and should be distinguished from other forms such as sääntöjen (genitive plural) and säännöt (nominative plural). Related terms include ohje, määräys, and laki, which represent related kinds of rules or regulations. The phrase is most natural in contexts describing how actions are constrained or guided by established rules.