allatiivsele

Allatiivsele is a term used in Finnic-language grammar to describe the allative case form. The allative marks direction toward something, such as a destination, a recipient, or a goal of an action. In Finnish, this meaning is usually expressed with the suffix -lle on nouns, and with pronouns in their allative forms.

Formation and forms

For nouns and proper nouns, the allative is formed by adding -lle to the stem: talo → talolle (to the house), kauppa → kaupalle (to the store), koulu → koululle (to the school). The allative typically indicates movement toward a place or the target of an action. Personal pronouns also have allative forms: minulle (to me), sinulle (to you), hänelle (to him/her), meille (to us), teille (to you all), heille (to them). Plural noun forms include taloille (to the houses), kaupoille (to the shops), and so on.

Usage and functions

The allative is used with verbs of motion to express destination, or with verbs of giving or transferring to indicate the recipient. Examples: Menen koululle (I’m going to the school); Annan sen hänelle (I’ll give it to him/her). It contrasts with the illative, which marks “into” a place (for example taloon, into the house), and with the adessive, which marks a location “on/at” something (talossa, on the house).

Cross-linguistic notes

The allative is a common feature of Finnish and Estonian, among other Finnic languages, and is typically realized with suffixes like -lle. In language-learning resources, the term allatiivinen or allatiivi is used to describe this case and its uses.

See also

Finnish language, Finnish case system, Allatiivi, Illatiivi, Adessiivi.