pelkäksi

Pelkäksi is the translative form of the Finnish adjective pelkkä, meaning “merely” or “only.” In Finnish grammar, the translative case marks a change into a new state, and pelkäksi is used to express that something becomes a mere version of something else or takes on a particular role or status described by a following noun or adjective.

Usage of pelkäksi is common with verbs that denote becoming, such as tulla and muuttua, for example: Hän tuli pelkäksi katselijaksi (He became a mere spectator). It is also used with nouns in the translative to describe a role or state, as in pelkäksi todistajaksi (as a mere witness) or pelkäksi virheeksi (as a mere mistake). The construction can convey a sense of reduction or diminishment in importance compared with what preceded it.

Nuance and tone are important when using pelkäksi. The form often carries a evaluative or critical nuance, emphasizing that something is less substantial than it might have seemed or than expected. It is not a standalone adverb; rather, it is a grammatical form that modifies the complement of the sentence to express change into a particular state.

Related forms and notes: pelkkä is the base adjective meaning “mere” or “only,” and pelkäksi is its translative form. The form can be combined with various nouns in the translative to express “as a mere X.” It is part of the broader Finnish system of case endings that express state changes, roles, and identities.