määrääviksi

Määrääviksi is a Finnish grammatical term referring to a type of possessive construction. It describes a situation where a noun in the genitive case is used to indicate possession, but the possessed noun is not explicitly stated. This often occurs when the possessor is clear from the context or when the possessed object is a general concept like "family" or "people."

For example, in the sentence "Hän meni isän luo" (He went to father's [place/home]), "isän" is in the genitive case. The word "luo" (to/towards) implies a location associated with the father, such as his home or presence. The possessed noun "koti" (home) is understood. Similarly, "äidin kanssa" (with mother's [company/help]) implies being with the mother.

Määrääviksi constructions are a common feature of Finnish grammar, contributing to the language's conciseness. They rely heavily on context for full understanding. This grammatical structure is distinct from explicit possessive constructions where both the possessor and the possessed item are clearly stated, such as "hänen kotinsa" (his home). The understanding of määrääviksi is crucial for comprehending nuanced and idiomatic Finnish expressions.