työkaluna

Työkaluna is the essive form of the Finnish noun työkalU? No, of työkalU? Let me fix: The correct form is työkalu, with the essive case ending -na, yielding työkaluna. It is used to express that something functions in the capacity of a tool or is used as a tool, conveying a temporary or contextual role rather than a permanent property. In practice, työkaluna marks the role or function of an object within a process, similar to saying “as a tool” in English.

The form is common in everyday Finnish and pairs with verbs that describe usage or function, such as toimia (to act as) and käyttää (to use). For example: Tämä ohjelmisto toimii työkaluna tiedon keräämisessä. This software functions as a tool for data collection. Koulutuksessa teknologiaa käytetään työkaluna oppimisprosessin tehostamiseen. In training, technology is used as a tool to improve the learning process. Hänen roolinsa projektissa on työkaluna uusien ideoiden kehittämisessä. His role in the project is as a tool for developing new ideas.

For a change of state or role, Finnish commonly uses the translative form työkaluksi (instead of työkaluna). Se muuttui työkaluksi uuden ohjelmiston kehittämisessä means “It became a tool in the development of a new software.” In summary, työkaluna expresses function or role in the present context, while työkaluksi indicates a transition to that function.