Ablative
The Ablative (ablatiivi) case is part of the internal locative cases. It typically corresponds to the “from” preposition in English, and usually refers to a change or observation of “something going from somewhere externally closeby to outside”. This is not always exact and depends on the context. In Finnish it is indicated by the -lta/-ltä suffix.
Concept
Including, but not limited to:
- When something is going away from a place it is near or around.
- When phrasing or expressing time.
- When using certain (and often perceptional) verbs.
Usage
The Ablative (-lta/-ltä) locative case often corresponds to the Adessive locative case (-lla/-llä) in that something goes away from a place it is near or around.
| Word | Translation | Example | Example translated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Word Talo | Translation House |
Example
Talolta, taloilta | Example translated From around the house(s) |
| Word Kaappi | Translation Cupboard |
Example
Kaapilta, kaapeilta | Example translated From around the cupboard(s) |
| Word Laatikko | Translation Box |
Example
Laatikolta, laatikoilta | Example translated From around the box(es) |
| Word Kauppa | Translation Store |
Example
Kaupalta, kaupoilta | Example translated From around the store(s) |
| Word Auto | Translation Car |
Example
Autolta, autoilta | Example translated From around the car(s) |
To identify at what time something happens the Ablative case is used. This is only used for half or full hours and only between 1-12.
| Word | Translation |
|---|---|
| Word Kello yhdeltä | Translation At 1 |
| Word Kello kahdeksalta | Translation At 8 |
| Word Puoli kahdeltatoista | Translation At half 12 (11:30) |
More examples of the Ablative usage when expressing time can be found from the Telling the time page.
Often when giving an opinion that relates to one’s senses or perceptions the Ablative locative case is used.
| Word | Translation |
|---|---|
| Word Ruoka maistuu hyvältä | Translation The food tastes good |
| Word Se haisee pahalta | Translation It smells bad |
| Word He näyttävät surullisilta | Translation They look sad |
Formation
Words that end in a single vowel of -a/-ä, -o/-ö or -u/-y simply add the -lta/-ltä suffix.
| Word | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Word Auto | Conjugation Autolta |
| Word Pöytä | Conjugation Pöydältä |
| Word Sänky | Conjugation Sängyltä |
Words that end in -e acquire a second -e before adding the -lta/-ltä suffix.
| Word | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Word Parveke | Conjugation Parvekkeelta |
| Word Tampere | Conjugation Tampereelta |
| Word Tie | Conjugation Tieltä |
Words that end in -nen change to -se before adding the -lta/-ltä suffix.
| Word | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Word Kivinen | Conjugation Kiviseltä |
| Word Punainen | Conjugation Punaiselta |
| Word Ykkönen | Conjugation Ykköseltä |
New Finnish words typically look or sound like words in other languages. They perhaps most commonly seem to resemble English words. These words simply add the -lta/-ltä suffix.
| Word | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Word Pankki | Conjugation Pankilta |
| Word Bussi | Conjugation Bussilta |
| Word Kioski | Conjugation Kioskilta |
Old Finnish words that end in -i change to -e before adding the -lta/-ltä suffix.
| Word | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Word Helmi | Conjugation Helmeltä |
| Word Kylki | Conjugation Kyljeltä |
| Word Talvi | Conjugation Talvelta |
Old Finnish words that end in -si change to -de before adding the -lta/-ltä suffix.
| Word | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Word Uusi | Conjugation Uudelta |
| Word Kuukausi | Conjugation Kuukaudelta |
| Word Vuosi | Conjugation Vuodelta |