Essive case
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Essive)
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2007) |
The essive or similaris case (abbreviated ESS) carries the meaning of a temporary location or state of being, often equivalent to the English "as a (child)".
In the Finnish language, this case is marked by adding "-na/-nä" to the stem of the noun.
- Example: lapsi "child" -> lapsena "as a child", "when (I) was a child".
In the Estonian language, this case is marked by adding "-na" to the genitive case.
- Example: laps "child" -> lapse "of child" -> lapsena "as a child", "when (I) was a child".
In Finnish, it is also used for specifying times, days and dates when something happens. For example: maanantaina -> "on Monday", kuudentena joulukuuta -> "on the 6th of December". Some expressions use the essive in the ancient locative meaning, e.g. "at home" is kotona. Observe the similarity to English "at home/in my home":
- Luen lehtiä kotona. "I read newspapers at home." If you use the inessive, kodissani, you contrast to reading them in the garage (a physical location) instead.
- Kodissani tehdään remonttia. "In my home, a renovation is underway."
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
