Translatiivi

Translatiivi is a grammatical case in Finnish that marks the result of a change of state or transformation into something else. It expresses becoming or entering a new state or role and is commonly used with verbs of becoming, such as tulla (to become) and valmistua (to graduate as). The translative answers questions like into what state or role someone or something is changing.

Form and formation: The translative is formed by adding the suffix -ksi to the noun or adjective stem, with the usual phonological adjustments of Finnish. Examples include opettaja → opettajaksi (into a teacher), lääkäri → lääkäriksi (into a doctor), opiskelija → opiskelijaksi, and ystävä → ystäväksi. Some stems maintain a straightforward -ksi ending, while others involve minor changes to fit Finnish harmony and pronunciation.

Usage and examples: The translative is commonly used with verbs of becoming or changing state, producing phrases such as Hänestä tuli opettajaksi (He became a teacher) and Hän valmistui lääkäriksi (He graduated as a doctor). It can also denote the destination state of a process or the role someone assumes.

Relation to other cases: The translatiivi is contrasted with the essive case, which marks a temporary state or role, as in opettajana (as a teacher). The translative emphasizes the transition into a new state rather than the current state. It is one of the standard cases in Finnish grammar and applies to nouns, pronouns, and some adjective stems in the appropriate contexts.