Nouns: Essive Case (as / in the role of) — Finnish Grammar

English says as a teacher, as a child — a role held rather than a permanent identity. Finnish says it with an ending: a teacher, as a teacher. It is -na if the word contains a, o or u, and -nä if it does not.

You will meet it in two places above all: naming the capacity someone acts in, and naming the day something happens on.

In a Role or State

The essive says that someone acts as, or is in the condition of, something - usually temporarily.

Työskentelen opettajana.
I work as a teacher.

opettaja- teacher, -na the "as" ending
English needs a separate word, "as"; Finnish puts it on the end of the noun

Lapsena asuin maalla.
As a child I lived in the countryside.
Hän on täällä vieraana.
He/she is here as a guest.
Olin sairaana eilen.
I was ill yesterday.

On Days and Occasions

The essive states the day, weekday, or festival on which something happens - a very practical everyday use.

Maanantaina menen töihin.
On Monday I go to work.
Jouluna olemme kotona.
At Christmas we are at home.
Sunnuntaina lepään.
On Sunday I rest.

Essive vs. Translative

It helps to contrast the essive with the translative (-ksi, "becoming"). The essive describes being in a state; the translative describes changing into one: (as a teacher) versus (into / to become a teacher).

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Finnish course

12 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 179. A few of them, with the words “Nouns: Essive Case (as / in the role of)” is about in bold:

Vierailen museossa torstaina.
I will visit the museum on Thursday.
Lesson 396
Minulla on tänä iltana treffit. Hän työskentelee tarjoilijana.
I have a date tonight. She works as a waitress.
Lesson 439

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