liiallisesta

Liiallisesta is the elative singular form of the Finnish adjective liiallinen, meaning excessive or undue. In Finnish, adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and take the same case endings as those nouns; therefore liiallinen becomes liiallisesta when the noun it describes is in the elative case (from, out of). The elative form is commonly used to indicate source or cause, so liiallisesta translates roughly as “from the excessive” or “of excessive” depending on context.

Usage and examples

Liiallisesta is typically used with nouns that denote things such as behavior, diet, workload, or spending to indicate that the degree is more than appropriate. For example, liiallisesta ruokavaliosta johtuva riski means “a risk derived from an excessive diet,” and seuraukset liiallisesta kiireestä johtuvat meaning “consequences caused by excessive rush.” The adjective precedes the noun it modifies, as is standard in Finnish.

Nuance and related forms

The use of liiallisesta often carries a evaluative or critical nuance, signaling that the degree of excess is undesirable. Related forms include liiallinen (the base form meaning “excessive”), liiallisesti (adverb meaning “excessively”), and liiallisuus (the noun form “excessiveness”). Understanding the elative form helps in parsing sentences that express origin or cause related to excess.

See also

Finnish grammar, especially the use of adjectives and the elative case; the word liiallinen and its derivatives.