Location Case Verb Rections – Rektiot Missä Mistä Mihin
Location case verb rections are rections that require their complement to be in one of the location cases (missä, mistä, mihin). There are many different kinds of rections, but the location case verb rections are usually the first to be taught.
- What are rections?
- Rections that answer the question “mistä”
- Rections with only -sta
- Rections with both -sta and -lta
- Rections that answer the question “mihin”
- Rections with only the illative
- Rections with both the illative and -lle
- Rections that answer the question “missä”
- Rections that answer the question “miltä”
1. What are rections?
“Verb rections” is the term used for when certain verbs demand the usage of a certain case for words connected to it. This does exist in English at some level, but I’ve never heard the term “rection” in regards of English.
An example in English:
to look at,
to look for,
to look in,
to look out for,
to look out and
to look like.
While Finnish rections are much like what I listed above, Finnish uses suffixes to express the English prepositions (-ssa instead of “in”). Note: the English translations hereunder are often a bit wonky. This is done on purpose to ensure that you understand the Finnish sentence construction.
Something else to understand is that — while I put these verbs in this list — that doesn’t mean this is 100% the only way to use them. For example, the verb “kertoa” can be used both with -lle and -sta. In fact, you can use both of them in the same sentence: “Minä kerron sinulle (to you) kissasta (about the cat).”, “I tell you about my cat.” There are many verbs like that which can have multiple rections. In addition, sometimes the same meaning can be covered with two verbs. “Hän haisee pahalle” and “Hän haisee pahalta” are both allowed, but both mean “He smells bad”.
The form I’m using in these sentences is the most common one. My approach is that it’s better to have some idea of these to start with, and complete your knowledge later. I find that preferable over having to work your way through all the theory and options that are possible.
Now let’s take a look at some location case verb rections!
2. Rections that answer to the question “mistä”
2.1. Rections with only -sta
You can read more about the -sta/-stä form on the page about the elative.
Many of the phrases in English where you would use “about” (eg. talk, chat, worry about something) will have -sta in Finnish. This is not a definite rule, but a fairly common occurrence. These location case verb rections are fairly basic.
Verb | Sentence | English |
---|---|---|
tietää | Tiedän paljon Suomen historiasta. | I know a lot “from” (about) Finnish history. |
puhua | Puhutteko minusta? | Do you talk “from” (about) me? |
kertoa | Kerron hänelle Ranskan matkasta. | I tell him “from” (about) the trip to France. |
jutella | Juttelimme asioista. | We chatted “from” (about) the things. |
keskustella | Keskustelemme Suomen politiikasta. | We chat “from” (about) Finnish politics. |
kirjoittaa | Me kirjoitetaan kuninkaasta. | We write “from” (about) a king. |
sopia | Me sovimme tapaamisesta. | We agreed “from” (about) meeting. |
ilmoittaa | Isännöitsijä ilmoitti jostakin. | The landlord informed “from” (about) something. |
kiittää | Hän kiitti hyvästä ruoasta. | He thanked “from” (for) the good food. |
nauttia | Nautimme kesäsäästä. | We enjoyed “from” the summer weather. |
riippua | Se riippuu ilmasta. | It depends “from” (on) the weather. |
kiinnostua | Hän on kiinnostunut sinusta. | He’s interested “from” (in) you. |
pitää | Pidän suklaasta. | I like “from” chocolate. |
tykätä | Tykkäätkö jäätelöstä? | Do you like “from” icecream? |
ajatella | Mitä sinä ajattelet minusta. | What do you think “from” (about) me? |
unelmoida | Mistä sinä unelmoit? | “From” (of) what do you dream? |
haaveilla | Mitä haaveilen omasta yrityksestä. | I dream “from” (of) my own business. |
huolehtia | Minä huolehdin sinusta. | I look “from” (after) you. |
huolestua | Nuoriso huolestuu politiikasta. | The youth worries “from” (about) politics. |
innostua | Nuoriso innostuu blogeista. | Youth gets interested/excited “from” (in) blogs. |
kilpailla | Me kilpailemme mestaruudesta. | We compete “from” (for) the title. |
koostua | Kaikki koostuu atomeista. | Everything consists “from” (of) atoms. |
kärsiä | Hän kärsii kuumasta kesästä. | He suffers “from” the hot weather. |
luennoida | Hän luennoi aiheesta. | He lectured “from” (about) the subject. |
luopua | Hän luopui tupakoinnista. | He gave (up) “from” smoking. |
neuvotella | He neuvottelevat yhteistyöstä. | They discuss “from” (about) a collaboration. |
palkita | Äiti palkitsi hänet työstään. | Mom rewarded him “from” (for) this work. |
riidellä | Me riitelemme rahasta. | We argue “from” (about) money. |
selvitä | Onneksi selvisimme tilanteesta. | Luckily we recovered “from” the situation. |
vapautua | Voiko vesimaksusta vapautua? | Can one be excempted “from” the water bill? |
yllättyä | Yllätyimme lahjoista. | We were surprised “from” (by) the gifts. |
2.2. Rections with both -sta and -lta
Verbs that allow both -sta (elative) and -lta (ablative) are verbs that give the answer to the question “mistä”. The possibility of having either -sta or -lta is dependent on the word we’re using to answer the question mistä. For example, buying food from the store would be “kaupasta”, but buying food from the market place would be “torilta”. This is due to the fact that tori will always have -lla, -lta and -lle (rule 1.1 on this page).
Verb | Sentence | English |
---|---|---|
ostaa | Ostan ruokaa Lidlistä. | I buy food from Lidl. |
Ostan kalaa torilta. | I buy fish from the market. | |
etsiä | Etsin pyörää monesta kaupasta. | I search for a bike “from” many stores. |
Etsimme lompakkoani pöydältä. | We search for my wallet “from” the table. | |
löytää | Löysin pyörän torilta. | I found a bike “from” (in) the market. |
Löysitkö kirjeen laatikosta? | Did you find the letter “from” (in) the box? | |
lukea | Luin lehdestä, että on homeongelmia. | I read “from” (in) the newspaper that there are mold problems. |
Luimme uutisen etusivulta. | We read the news “from” (on) the front page. | |
katsoa | Katson nettisivulta mikä päivä on. | I check from the website what day it is. |
Katso sana sanakirjasta! | Check the word from the dictionary! | |
myöhästyä | Me myöhästyimme kurssilta. | We were late “from” (for) the course. |
Älä myhästy bussista! | Don’t be late “from” (for) the bus! | |
lainata | Keneltä lainasit rahaa? | Who did you borrow money from? |
Lainasimme rahaa pankista. | We borrowed money from the bank. | |
pelastaa | Pelastan keittiön repimiseltä. | I save the kitchen from demolishing. |
Sankari pelasti minut pulasta. | The hero saved me from trouble. |
3. Rections that answer to the question “mihin”
3.1. Rections with only the illative
The illative answers the question “mihin“, but its uses are pretty different than in English. Many of these are just cases when you have to learn the location case verb rections without translating too much. You will see that when you look at the straight translations. Most of those just don’t make sense in English.
Verb | Sentence | English |
---|---|---|
liittyä | Liittyikö Suomi EU:hun? | Did Finland join “into” the EU? |
rakastua | Rakastuin häneen. | I fell “into” love with him. |
tutustua | Hauska tutustua sinuun! | Nice to meet “into” you! |
tottua | En koskaan totu pimeään talveen. | I never get used “into” the dark winter. |
käyttää | Käytätkö paljon aikaa urheiluun? | Do you use lots of time “into” sports? |
mahtua | Mahdutteko kaikki tuohon autoon? | Do you all fit into that car? |
kuulua | Mikä ei kuulu joukkoon? | What doesn’t fit into the group? |
vastata | Vastaa puhelimeen! | Answer “into” the phone! |
erikoistua | Petri erikoistui hermokirurgiaan. | Petri specialized “into” nerve surgery. |
haastaa | Haastoin hänet oikeuteen. | I sued him “into” court. |
ihastua | Roope oli ihastunut Niinaan. | Roope was infatuated “into” (with) Niina. |
keskittyä | He kestkittyvät naisten oikeuksiin. | They focus “into” (on) women’s rights. |
kiinnittyä | Huomioni kiinnittyy punaiseen autoon. | My attention is drawn “into” the red car. |
kuolla | Hän kuoli syöpään. | He died “into” (of) cancer. |
luottaa | Enemmistö luottaa Kelaan. | The majority trusts “into” Kela. |
nojata | Minä nojasin seinään. | I leaned “into” the wall. |
osallistua | Me osallistuimme tutkimukseen. | We participated “into” the study. |
osua | Nuoli osui maaliin. | The arrow hit “into” the goal. |
perustua | Hänen menestys perustuu kovaan työntekoon. | His success stems “into” (from) hard work. |
sairastua | Sairastuin influenssaan. | I got sick “into” (with) the flue. |
sekoittaa | Sekoita sokeri jauhoihin. | Mix the sugar into the flour. |
sisältyä | Vesimaksu sisältyy vuokraan. | The water bill is included “into” the rent. |
suhtautua | Miten hän suhtautui siihen? | How did he feel “into” (about) it? |
tarttua | Tartun mahdollisuuteen sanoa jotain. | I grasp “into” the opportunity to say something. |
tyytyä | Vähempään en tyydy. | I won’t settle “into” (for) less. |
törmätä | Auto törmäsi puuhun. | The car bumped into the tree. |
vaikuttaa | Liikunta vaikuttaa terveyteen. | Excercise influences “into” your health. |
valmistautua | Miten valmistaudut työelämään? | How do you prepare “into” (for) working life? |
vedota | Vetoat hänen tunteisin. | You’re appealing “into” his feelings. |
viitata | Wikipediaan ei saa viitata. | It’s not allowed to refer “into” Wikipedia. |
väsyä | Minä väsyin lukemiseen. | I got tired “into” (of) reading. |
yhtyä | Hän yhtyi lauluun. | He joined “into” the singing. |
3.2. Rections with both illative and -lle
Verbs that allow both the illative and -lle (allative) are verbs that give the answer to the question “mihin”.
The possibility of having either of these two cases is dependent on the word we’re using to answer the question mihin. You will need to learn these by heart because they are very different form English.
Verb | Sentence | English |
---|---|---|
jäädä | Jään kotiin. | I stay “into” (at) home. |
Lompakkoni jäi pöydälle. | My wallet stayed “onto” (on) the table. | |
jättää | Jätän tämän kirjan sinulle. | I will leave this book “onto” for you. |
Jätin kirjat kotiin. | I left the books “into” (at) home. | |
unohtaa | Unohdin paperit luokkaan. | I forgot the papers “into” (in) the class room. |
Unohdit avaimesi pöydälle! | You forgot your keys “onto” (on) the table! | |
päästä | Milloin me pääsemme kotiin? | When do we get to go “into” home? |
Pääsimme kielen kurssille. | We got “onto” (into) the course. | |
kiinnittää | Kiinnitin taulun seinälle. | I attached the painting “onto” (to) the wall. |
Kiinnitin heti huomiota hänen. | I noticed “into” him right away. |
4. Rections that answer to the question “missä”
Next is the group of location case verb rections that only have one rection: -ssa (aka the inessive).
Verb | Sentence | English |
---|---|---|
epäonnistua | Hallitus on epäonnistunut työssään. | The government has failed “in” their job. |
erehtyä | Hän erehtyi yksityiskohdissa. | He was wrong “in” (about) the details. |
hylätä | Hän hylkäsi vaimonsa sateessa. | He left his wife “in” the rain. |
neuvoa | Hän neuvoi minua monessa asiassa. | He advised me “in” many things. |
onnistua | Ruotsi on onnistunut integraatiossa. | Sweden has succeeded “in” the integration. |
voittaa | Hän voitti kilpailussa. | He won “in” the competition. |
5. Rections that answer to the question “miltä”
The most common group of verbs that require the word attached to them to appear in the -lta form are perceptional verbs (aistiverbit, aistimusverbit, vaikutelmaverbit) come with both -lta/ltä (the ablative) or -lle (the allative). Most Finns seem to recognize a small difference in meaning between the two, but aren’t able to explain it very well. As a non-native speaker, I stick to –lta in all situations, even though both are possible. I have a whole separate article on these perceptional verbs.
In addition, there is a small group of verbs that express being protected or avoiding something, which require the -lta form. Last but not least, there are very common verbs that answer the question kenelle. I have a separate article on rections with kenelle, kenellä and keneltä.
Verb | Sentence | English |
---|---|---|
maistua | Lounas maistui herkulliselta. | Lunch tasted delicious. |
näyttää | Hän näyttää eksyneeltä. | He looks lost. |
tuoksua | Hajuvesi tuoksuu ruusuilta. | The perfume smells like roses. |
kuulostaa | Suunnitelma kuulosti hullulta. | The plan sounded crazy. |
tuntua | Hieronta tuntuu mukavalta. | A massage feels good. |
vaikuttaa | Hän vaikutti itsevarmalta. | She seemed self-confident. |
haista | Viemäri haisi homeiselta. | The sewer stank of mold. |
suojata | Suojaa kasvosi pakkaselta! | Protect your face from frost! |
suojella | En voi suojella sinua pahalta. |
I can’t protect you from bad things. |
suojautua | Suojaudu UV-säteilyltä! | Protect yourself from UV radiation! |
välttyä | Miten voin välttyä huijauksilta? | How can I avoid scams? |
varastaa | Varastin Arilta kympin. | I stole ten euros from Ari. |
lainata | Lainasin Arilta kirjan. | I borrowed a book from Ari. |
These are not all the location case verb rections that exist, but they are the most common ones. Good luck in your studies!