keskuksina

Keskuksina is the plural essive form of the Finnish noun keskus, meaning “as centers” or “in the capacity of centers.” In Finnish, the essive case describes a temporary state or role, such as “opettajina” (as teachers). The plural form keskuksina is used when the subject is plural, i.e., several centers.

Morphology and usage notes: keskukset (the plural of keskus) plus the essive suffix -na/-nä yields keskuksina. The form is common in formal, descriptive, or administrative writing when listing multiple centers that provide services or functions. The essive conveys a role or state that applies to the centers in question, rather than a permanent classification.

Usage context: keskuksina often appears in sentences that describe how multiple institutions or locations function within a region or system. It is typical in strategy documents, policy descriptions, or regional planning to refer to several centers collectively.

Examples:

- Kaupungin alueet voivat toimia keskuksina, joissa tarjotaan palveluita. Translation: City districts can function as centers where services are offered.

- Alueelliset toimijat nimeävät koulutuksen, kulttuurin ja terveydenhuollon keskuksina. Translation: Regional actors designate education, culture, and health care as centers.

See also: Finnish grammar, essive case, noun pluralization. Notes: keskuksina contrasts with keskuksena (singular essive) when referring to a single center or a unified center in the role of “as a center.”