Toimistolla

Toimistolla is the Finnish adessive form of the noun toimisto, meaning “at the office.” It marks the location of a person or an action as being at or around the office building or area.

Formation and meaning: The form is created by adding the suffix -lla/-llä to the stem toimisto: toimisto + -lla = toimistolla. The adessive case generally indicates location at a place or surface, and is commonly translated as “at” or “on” in English. Unlike the inessive form, which expresses being inside something (toimistossa = in the office), the adessive emphasizes the place where someone is located or where an activity occurs at the vicinity of the place.

Usage and nuance: The adessive toimistolla is often used to state where someone is, where a meeting or activity takes place, or where something is located. The related inessive toimistossa means “inside the office,” a nuance useful when the distinction between being at the building versus being inside a room matters. Other case forms structure related meanings of movement or direction (e.g., illative toimistoon = into the office, allative toimistolle = toward the office).

Examples:

- Olen toimistolla. (I am at the office.)

- Kokous pidetään toimistolla tänään. (The meeting is held at the office today.)

- Menen toimistolle hakemaan postia. (I’m going to the office to get the mail.)

- Hän työskentelee toimistolla koko päivän. (He works at the office all day.)

See also: related locative forms for toimisto (toimistossa, toimistoon, toimistolle) and general Finnish case usage for place expressions.