tarkassa

Tarkassa is a Finnish term that functions as the inessive form of the adjective tarkka, meaning precise or careful. It is not an adverb; the corresponding adverb is tarkasti. The form tarkassa is used to describe a state or condition related to precision, typically within a noun phrase or a larger grammatical construction.

Etymology and morphology: tarkassa derives from tarkka with the locative suffix -ssa, indicating the sense of “in a state of precision” or “under precise conditions.” Like many Finnish adjectives, tarkka inflects for case and number, and tarkassa specifically signals the inessive case. The usage is largely limited to contexts where a noun or noun phrase governs the sense of precision, accuracy, or careful handling.

Usage: Tarkassa appears most often in formal, technical, or legal-style Finnish. It can describe ongoing states or procedures, such as investigations, reviews, or measurements, where precision is a criterion. Examples of its function include phrases like “tarkassa seurannassa” (in close monitoring) or “tarkassa tutkimuksessa” (in rigorous study). In everyday language, speakers more commonly use adverbs such as tarkasti to convey precision in actions.

Relation to related forms: The primary distinction is that tarkassa conveys a state of precision linked to a noun, whereas tarkasti functions as an adverb describing how an action is performed. Other related forms, such as tarkka (the base adjective) and tarkasti (the adverb), are more widely used in different syntactic positions.

See also: tarkka, tarkasti, Finnish grammar, inessive case.