elatiivmonikko

Elatiivmonikko is a grammatical term used within the study of Finno-Ugric languages, particularly Finnish, to describe a specific plural form associated with the elative case. The elative case (elatiivti) indicates movement out of or from a place or thing and is one of the locative cases in Finnish grammar.

In Finnish, the elatiive singular suffix is "-sta" or "-estä," depending on vowel harmony, attached to the stem of a noun. For example, "talosta" means "from the house," with "talo" (house) being the stem. The elative plural form, known as elatiivmonikko, is formed by adding the appropriate plural suffix "-ista" or "-istä" to the root, combined with the elative case ending. For example, the plural form "taloista" means "from the houses."

The formation of elatiivmonikko involves combining the plural partitive suffix "-i" or "-tä" with the elative case suffix, adhering to vowel harmony rules. The exact form can vary depending on the phonetic characteristics of the stem and the vowel harmony.

Understanding elatiivmonikko is important for correct grammatical usage in Finnish, especially in contexts involving movement or origin from multiple objects or locations. It exemplifies the rich morphological structure of Finnish, where case and number are expressed through specific suffix combinations, enabling precise communication of spatial and relational concepts.