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Finnish grammar · A1

Nouns: Instructive Case (by means of)

Alexander StebnerCreator of Lingora · Updated 14 October 20262 min readComments

The instructive is an old case meaning "by" or "with" - the manner or means of an action. In modern Finnish it is largely obsolete and survives mainly in fixed expressions, typically in the plural with the ending -in. You will encounter it in set phrases rather than form it yourself, but recognising it is useful because it appears in some very common idioms.

01

Set Phrases You Will Meet

  • Kirjoitin kirjeen käsin.

    I wrote the letter by hand.

  • Näin sen omin silmin.

    I saw it with my own eyes.

  • Tein sen omin käsin.

    I did it with my own hands.

  • Ystävällisin terveisin

    With kind regards (a standard letter closing)

02

What Finnish Uses Instead

In ordinary use, the means of doing something is expressed with the adessive ending (-lla / -llä), not the instructive. So while a fixed phrase says ("by hand"), the everyday pattern for "with" an instrument is the adessive.

  • Kirjoitan kynällä.

    I write with a pen.

  • Menen autolla.

    I go by car.

  • Syön haarukalla.

    I eat with a fork.

03

Why It Looks Like the Plural

The instructive ending -in coincides with the plural, which is why these expressions feel "plural" even when the meaning is general - literally pictures "with one's (own) eyes". Treat them as ready-made phrases.

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