essiiv

The essive, or essive case, is a Finnish grammatical case used to express a temporary state or role of a noun, roughly corresponding to the English word “as” or “in the capacity of.” It describes what someone or something is at a given time, especially in relation to a profession, status, or characteristic.

Formation and forms: The essive is formed with the suffix -na/-nä in the singular and -ina/-inä in the plural, following vowel harmony. Examples:

- opettaja (teacher) → opettajana (as a teacher)

- johtaja (leader) → johtajana (as a leader)

- opiskelija (student) → opiskelijana (as a student)

In plural: opettajina (as teachers), johtajina (as leaders), opiskelijoina (as students).

Usage: The essive denotes the speaker’s or subject’s current state or role during the event described. It is commonly used with occupations, roles, or characteristics, and can appear in sentences like: Hän toimii opettajana. (He works as a teacher.) Hän on johtajana yrityksessä. (He is in the position of a leader in the company.) Hän on opiskelijana. (She is a student.) The essive contrasts with the translative, which marks a change of state or a future role, as in hän tulee opettajaksi (he will become a teacher).

Notes: The form respects vowel harmony and can undergo minor phonological adjustments depending on the word’s ending. In everyday speech, essive constructions are widely used to describe one’s current role or state in a neutral, non-change-focused way.