yksinkertaiselle

Yksinkertaiselle is the allative singular form of the Finnish adjective yksinkertainen, meaning simple or plain. It is used when the modified noun or pronoun is in the allative case, which signals direction toward, destination, or recipient in Finnish. In practice, yksinkertaiselle appears in phrases where something is addressed to or intended for a single, simple recipient.

Morphology and use

In Finnish, adjectives decline to agree with the noun in number and case. Therefore, when the noun is singular and in the allative case, the corresponding form of the adjective ends with -lle. Examples include: Kysymykset osoitettiin yksinkertaiselle yleisölle (The questions were directed at a simple/lay audience) and Ohjeet on tarkoitettu yksinkertaiselle käyttäjälle (The instructions are intended for a simple/ordinary user). The plural allative form is yksinkertaisille (to/for the simple ones).

Etymology

Yksinkertaiselle derives from yksinkertainen, which means simple. The word yksinkertainen originates from yhdistelmä suggested by the notion of “one-fold” or “one-turned,” formed from the numeral yksi (one) and the suffix -kertainen (fold, times), yielding the sense of uncomplicated or single-fold.

Usage notes

Yksinkertaiselle is primarily found in formal or written contexts where the allative construction is required. It tends to refer to a recipient or target of an action, such as a person, audience, or user, described as simple or plain in some respect. In everyday speech, speakers may use more natural phrasing by choosing a different noun or by rephrasing to avoid heavy allative constructions.

See also

Finnish grammar: adjectives and the allative case; yksinkertainen; allatiivi.