essiivivorm

Essive form, or essive case (essiivivorm), is a Finnish grammatical case used to express a temporary state or role, roughly corresponding to the English expression “as” or “in the capacity of.” It indicates what someone or something is acting as or living as, often in the context of being or working in a particular role.

Formation: The essive is formed by adding the suffix -na or -nä to the noun stem, with vowel harmony guiding the choice. Examples: opettaja → opettajana (as a teacher); kissa → kissana (as a cat); lapsi → lapsena (as a child). The suffix typically attaches directly to the stem, with usual consonant and vowel adjustments as needed for natural Finnish pronunciation.

Usage: The essive is commonly used with verbs of being or functioning, such as olla (to be) or toimia (to operate). It describes a temporary or current state or role. Examples: Hän on opettajana. (He is working as a teacher / He is a teacher by profession in that context.) Hän toimi opettajana viime lukuvuonna. (He acted as a teacher last school year.)

Distinction from translative: The essive contrasts with the translative case (-ksi), which expresses becoming or change of state. For example, Hän tuli opettajaksi means “he became a teacher,” whereas Hän on opettajana means “he is a teacher (in that capacity).”

Notes: Some noun stems may show minor spelling adjustments or pronunciation changes when the essive suffix is added, but the basic pattern is the attachment of -na/-nä to express “as.” The essive is one of several nominal cases in Finnish and is especially common in descriptions of roles, occupations, or states that are not permanent.