The translative case‘s ending is -ksi. It’s used to express a change in state or a transition. This form appears in a wide range of sentence constructions. In this article, we take a closer look at verb rections that require the translative.

In addition to verb rections, there are also some other verb constructions and some participle uses that require the translative case.

1. Translative Verb Rections

1.1. valmistua + translative

The translative is used with the verb “valmistua” because semantically it means a change from one state to another: first you are a student, then you’re not anymore.

1.2. opiskella + translative

The verb “opiskella” can be a partitive verb when you’re referring to the subject you’re studying (eg. opiskelen suomea, matematiikkaa ja biologiaa). The translative is used when you’re talking about the goal (the profession) of your studies.

1.3. ryhtyä + translative

The verb “ryhtyä” (to start doing/being) is used for when you actively change your own status from one thing to another (eg. you start your own business, so you actively “make yourself into” a businessman.

1.4. päästä + translative

The verb “päästä” is hard to translate, but it’s used when you want to express that you became something or made it somewhere without having had any certainty that you would achieve it. When you “pääset” somewhere, it’s a reason to celebrate! Another rection for the verb “päästä” would be the mihin-form: eg. “Pääsen kotiin klo 2” or “Pääsin kokeilemaan sähköautoa”.

1.5. muuttua + translative

1.6. osoittautua + translative

The verb “osoittautua” means to “turn out a certain way” and expresses that we had certain expectations that were not fullfilled.

1.7. sopia + translative

In this context, “sopia” means to be suitable/fit for something. It also has different uses, eg. “to agree” or “to fit together”. These other usages don’t come with the translative.

2. Partitive + translative verb rections

Some verbs require two rections. In this section, you will find verbs that require the partitive case for the object of the sentence, and the translative for the adverb.

2.1. luulla + partitive + translative

The verb “luulla” (to think) in the past tense is used to express that you thought something that turned out not to be true.

2.2. sanoa + partitive + translative

The verb “sanoa” (to say) is used for accusations which could actually be true.

2.3. väittää + partitive + translative

When using the verb “väittää” (to claim), you’re expressing that you’re not taking sides as to whether the accusation is true or not.

2.4. nimittää + partitive + translative

The verb “nimittää” (to name, call) is used for when you call someone by a different name than their official name. It’s usually used when the nickname is either completely new, or in the very least new to the person you are talking to.

2.5. kutsua + partitive + translative

The verb “kutsua” will be used exactly like “nimittää”, only it expresses that the use of the alternative name is already well-established.

3. Object + translative verb rections

This section is meant for other verbs with what you call a double rection: verbs with a normal object in addition to the translative. The object can appear in the basic form (or accusative), the partitive or the genetive, according to the general object rules.

3.1. kääntää + object + translative

3.2. maalata + object + translative

3.3. määrätä + object + translative

This is another verb with many meaning. In this context, the verb “määrätä” means to appoint someone or to be appointed.

3.4. todeta + object + translative

One of the uses of the verb “todeta” is with the translative in order to express that something was declared to be a certain way.

3.5. äänestää + object + translative

The verb “äänestää” can be used with the partitive: “Äänestän presidenttiä”, which refers to the act of voting. When adding the translative, we’re voting someone (the object of the sentence) for a certain position (which will appear in the translative).

3.6. tuntea + itse + translative

Some learners of Finnish find they have a hard time to express their feelings in Finnish. The verb “tuntea” is one way to do so, but it will require this specific sentence construction, which includes the pronoun “itse”. You will need to add the appropriate possessive suffix to this.

4. The verb tulla

The verb “tulla” gets its own section on this page because the same phrase can be said both using the translative and the mistä-form (the elative case). In addition, there is the participle construction “tulla tehneeksi/tehdyksi”, which will be discussed elsewhere.