substantiiviksi

Substantiiviksi is the translative form of the Finnish noun substantiivi, meaning “into a noun.” In Finnish grammar, translatiivinen tapa (-ksi) marks a change of state, transformation, or function, and is used with verbs that describe becoming or turning into something, sometimes also to indicate a role or position.

The translative suffix -ksi is attached to the base of the word to form the singular translative. For example, opettaja (teacher) becomes opettajaksi “into a teacher,” and insinööri (engineer) becomes insinööriksi “into an engineer.” The translative can appear after a variety of stems, and in plural it takes the ending -iksi forms, as in opettajiksi “into teachers.” The choice between the nominative and translative complements depends on the nuance: translatiivin expresses the change of state or the chosen role, while the nominative often just names the new status without stressing the process of becoming.

Use in sentences is common with verbs like tulla (to become) and muuttua (to change into). For example: Hänestä tuli opettajaksi. Hänestä tuli insinööriksi. The phrase substantiiviksi itself is often used in grammar discussions to illustrate the translative case and how it functions when a word is cast into the form of a noun in a specific role or state.

Notes: The translative is a standard part of Finnish case morphology and can apply to many nouns and adjectives, though usage can vary by context and meaning.