välineelliset

Välineelliset is a term used in Finnish linguistics to refer to expressions that denote means or instruments by which an action is performed. The word derives from väline, meaning tool, with the suffix -ellinen indicating a property or category. Thus välineelliset ilmaisut are those that convey instrumental meaning, i.e., the how or by what means the action takes place.

In practice välineelliset ilmaisut in Finnish are often realized through noun phrases in the adessive case or related constructions that express instrumentality. Common forms include words like kädellä (with the hand), kynällä (with a pen), and veitsellä (with a knife). Such phrases answer questions like "by means of what?" or "how is the action performed?" and they can occur in various positions within a sentence, sometimes marked overtly by case endings or by prepositional-like expressions in other languages.

Cross-linguistically, välineelliset concepts correspond to instrumental expressions found in many languages, though their grammatical realization varies. In typological studies, instrumental meaning is analyzed alongside other means expressions such as manner, agentive, or beneficiary phrases. The category helps linguists compare how languages encode tool use, agency, and technique, and how such expressions interact with verb meaning and sentence structure.

In educational and descriptive grammars, välineelliset ilmaisut are presented as a key area of study for understanding how speakers designate tools and methods. They also illustrate how morphological forms, case marking, and word order contribute to the overall meaning of a sentence in Finnish. See also instrumental case, instrumentality, and adessive constructions.