Adessive Case - Finnish

Finnish

The Finnish adessive has the word ending -lla or -llä (according to the rules of vowel harmony). It is usually added to nouns and associated adjectives.

It is used in the following ways.

• Expressing the static state of being on the surface of something.

Possible English meanings of on, on top of, atop

kynä on pöydällä the pen is on the table

• As an existential clause with the verb olla (to be) to express possession

This is the Finnish way to express the English verb to have

Meillä on koira we have a dog ('on our (possession, responsibility, etc.) is dog')

• Expressing the instrumentive use of something

Possible English meanings of with, by, using

Hän meni Helsinkiin junalla he went to Helsinki by train

Hän osti sen eurolla he bought it for a euro

• In certain time expressions expressing the time at which things take place

Possible English meanings of during in over

aamulla in the morning keväällä in the spring

• Expressing the general proximity in space or time at which something takes place (where the more specific proximity case would be the inessive)

Possible English meaning of at

poikani on koululla my son is at school (c.f. hän on koulussa he is inside the school)

hän on ruokatunnilla he is at lunch - literally on the lunch hour (c.f. hän teki läksyt ruokatunnissa he did the homework in lunch hour

(Although not strictly a use of the adessive this proximity difference is mirrored in adverbial forms such as täällä - around here and tässä - right here)

• In certain expressions expressing mood

Janne oli huonolla tuulella Janne was in a bad mood