elatiiviset

Elatiiviset refers to the elative case in Finnish grammar. They are used to express origin, source, or material, and they apply to nouns, pronouns, adjectives and some numerals. The term is commonly used when describing how words inflect to show “from” or “out of” in Finnish.

In singular, the elative suffix is typically -sta or -stä, attached to the word stem. Examples include talosta (out of the house), vedestä (from the water), Suomesta (from Finland), and pöydästä (off the table). Some stems undergo consonant or vowel changes when the suffix is added, as in vesi → vedestä or maa → maasta. In plural, the elative forms add -ista or -istä to the plural stem: taloista (from the houses), vesistä (from waters), Suomista (from the Finlands/people from Finland), pöydistä (from the tables).

Common uses of the elative include indicating origin or source, material, or cause. It answers questions like “From where?” or “Out of what?” For instance, Suomesta means from Finland, and puusta means made of wood or from wood. The elative contrasts with other location-related cases such as the inessive (in), the adessive (on), and the allative (onto), and it is distinct from forms that indicate location inside or contact with something.

The elative is a productive part of Finnish morphology and appears in various syntactic constructions, including phrases that express departure, material composition, or source. Its form and nuances are learned through exposure to common phrases and standard usage in everyday Finnish.