If you’ve been studying the location cases for a while, you might notice some things that seem strangely inconsistent in the usage of them. Sometimes Finns deviate from what you’d think is correct. After all, you’ve been studying pöydällä, so what’s this pöydässä suddenly? Is it hyllyllä or hyllyssä? This article deals with this type of case differences.

Read this comparison of the location cases (missä mistä mihin) if you’re new to the topic!

1. Hyllyllä or hyllyssä?

The word hylly has two meanings that are nearly identical. A hylly can be a shelf, and it can be a bookcase. Of course a bookcase has several shelves in it. This double meaning is important when trying to decide between hyllyssä and hyllyllä.

The regular rule for inner and outer location cases states that –ssA is used for when you’re inside and –llA for when you’re on or at something (or outside). Compare that to a shelf and a bookcase. A book can be on a shelf (hyllyllä), but also in a bookcase (hyllyssä).

2. Pöydällä or pöydässä?

Of these two, pöydällä is probably the one you’re most familiar with: things are generally on a table. However, there is also a specific use for the form pöydässä. When people are sitting at a table, we will be using the –ssA form.

Yes, literally that means that we’re sitting in the table, but that’s a more accurate description than if we’d say on the table, because that already has its own meaning. The –ssA form is not just used for when something is inside, but also when things are really close or connected to one another. When you’re sitting at the table, you’re really close to it.

3. Sängyssä or sängyllä?

This one should be fairly straightforward when you think about the general rule of both cases: the -ssA form is used when you’re in some place, while -llA is used as on. At night, you sleep in your bed, but you can nap or read a book on the bed.

4. Kirjakaupassa or kirjakaupalla?

When someone is near something, we can use -llA. If you’re meeting a friend kirjakaupassa, you’re meant to meet inside the store. In contrast, meeting them kirjakaupalla means you’re meeting them just outside of the bookstore, maybe near the front door or in the near vicinity of it.

5. Koulussa or koululla?

Buildings that have a specific function (like an office or a school) can get both -ssA and -llA. The former is used to say that someone is performing the function, while the latter is just referring to the location. That may sound complicated but consider this example:

• Äiti on toimistossa. “Mother is at the office (working).”
• Äiti on toimistolla. “Mother is at the office (maybe just chatting, or taking care of affairs).”

6. Bussissa or bussilla?

When using bussissa, you’re referring to the bus as a place you are inside of. In contrast, bussilla expresses that you are traveling by bus: it’s a mode of transportation. There is no clear concrete use for bussilta or bussille.

7. Katossa or katolla?

I think the difference between katossa and katolla two is neat! Finnish doesn’t have a separate word for ceiling and roof. When talking about the ceiling, we will use the inner location cases (katossa). When talking about the roof, we will use the outer location cases (katolla).

8. Taivaassa or taivaalla?

This is another case of Finnish using the same word for two separate things: taivas can mean both “sky” (with –llA) and “heaven” (with –ssA).

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Missä asut? Tampereella vai Helsingissä? Things to Take with you to a Deserted Island Juovuksissa Nukuksissa -UksissA(An) Adverbs Minä käyn kaupassa – Käydä – Example Sentences