olomuotoon

olomuotoon is the illative form of the Finnish noun olomuoto. Olomuoto means a state or form of matter or, more generally, a condition or situation. In Finnish grammar the illative case expresses movement toward or into something, so olomuotoon literally means “into a state/form.” It is commonly used in contexts describing transformation or transition between states.

In science and education, olomuoto refers to the physical states of matter, typically kiinteä (solid), neste (liquid), kaasu (gas), and sometimes plasma. The illative form olomuotoon is used when speaking about changing into a specific state, for example in processes where a substance shifts from one state to another.

Usage notes:

- The phrase muuttaa olomuotoon is standard for “to change into a state,” as in describing phase transitions.

- It is also used with verbs like siirtyä olomuotoon (“to shift into a state”) to emphasize a transformation.

Examples:

- Lämpötilan noustessa vesi muuttuu olomuotoon höyryksi. (As the temperature rises, water changes into vapor form.)

- Jäät sulavat ja muuttuvat olomuotoon nesteeksi. (Ice melts and becomes a liquid state.)

Related terms include olomuoto (state/form in general) and muutos olomuodosta toiseen (change from one state to another). The concept plays a central role in teaching about phase changes and material properties in physics and chemistry, as well as in broader discussions of conditions and forms in Finnish.