Tavoitteesta

Tavoitteesta is the elative singular form of the Finnish noun tavoite, meaning goal or objective. In Finnish grammar, the elative suffix -sta/-stä expresses origin or starting point, and in broader use can indicate the topic or subject discussed, especially in formal or journalistic style.

In ordinary speech, tavoite refers to an aim or target that a person or organization seeks to reach. The form tavoitteesta is used when the speaker wants to indicate something about the objective as a source, basis, or topic. For example, phrases such as keskustelu tavoitteesta (a discussion about the objective) or raportti tavoitteesta (a report about the objective) are common in news reporting, administrative text, and academic writing. The elative can also denote origin in more literal phrases, such as information derived from the objective or derived from analysis of the objective.

Common uses include discussing an objective as a subject, presenting information about the objective, or indicating that a statement refers to the objective. Examples: “Keskustelu tavoitteesta kestää edelleen” and “Raportti tavoitteesta julkaistiin tänään.” The form underlines that the content centers on the objective rather than on other topics.

Etymologically, tavoite derives from a root related to aiming or targeting, and the elative form tavoitteesta simply marks that noun in a specific grammatical case. This construction is typical in Finnish when the speaker wants to address the objective as the focus of discourse or as the source of information.

See also: tavoite, elatiivi, Finnish case system.