työkalunsa

Työkalunsa is a Finnish noun form that marks possession by a third person singular possessor. It is built from the noun työkalu (tool) combined with the third‑person possessive suffix -nsa (or -nsä, depending on vowel harmony). The resulting word literally means “his/her tool” and is used when the possessor is a specific person referred to in the context.

The form illustrates Finnish suffixal possessive morphology, where ownership is conveyed directly on the possessed noun rather than with a separate possessive pronoun. The suffix occurs on a singular noun and changes to align with the surrounding vowels, producing forms like työkalunsa in common usage. Two key allomorphs are -nsa and -nsä, chosen by phonological harmony rules.

Examples help clarify usage. Hän otti mukaansa työkalunsa, meaning “He took his tools with him” or more strictly “his/her tool(s).” Another example, Hänellä on työkalunsa vanha, demonstrates a simple predicate using the possessive form to refer to the tool belonging to the subject. When referring to multiple tools, Finnish typically uses the plural noun with a corresponding possessive suffix, yielding työkalujensa for “his/her tools.”

See also Finnish grammar, possessive suffixes, and noun morphology. References to standard Finnish grammar guides provide formal rules for suffix choice and harmony.