The External Cases—Adessive, Ablative, and Allative.
The external cases correspond in their general significance and employment to the internal cases already described, only while these latter denote rest within and motion to or from the interior of an object, the former in their strict meaning imply rest on and motion to or from the surface of an object. But as may be seen by the examples this distinction is not always very strictly observed. The external cases have a tendency to denote animate objects.
Adessive.
I. The adessive primarily denotes the place on which an action takes place. Poika istuu lattialla, the boy sits on the floor. Tuskin voin olla jaloillani, I can hardly stand on my legs. Hän asuu tällä kadulla, he lives in this street. Millä paikoilla? whereabouts? Saksan maalla kasvaa hyviä viinirypäleitä, in Germany good grapes grow. Kivet laikkui lainehilla, Somerot vesillä souti (Kal. xliv. 261, 2).
II. The adessive is also used to mark time, when the period is not definitely specified by a cardinal number or otherwise. Päivällä, in the day, by day; yöllä, by night; keväällä, in spring; kesällä, in summer; syksyllä, in autumn; talvella, in winter; (but viime kesänä, last spring, because the time is determined by the adjective).
Kalat tärpäävät kesällä, fish bite in spring. Aamulla ani varahin, very early in the morning (Kal. iv. 303). Kysyi työtä iltaisella, he asked for the work in the evening (Kal. xxxii. 6).
III. Like the inessive the adessive is used in a loose or metaphorical sense to denote the external circumstances under which anything takes place. Thus it is used of the weather. Kuivalla säällä, in dry weather; tuulella, in windy weather. Minä palasin kotiin sateella, I returned home in the rain. Joka tyynellä makaa, se tuulella soutaa (proverb), he who sleeps in a calm, rows in a wind.
Olla hereellä or valveella, to be awake. On tulolla sade, it is going to rain. Olen menolla, I am going.
And in some cases where according to our ideas the circumstances denoted are distinctly internal, e.g. olla hyvällä tai pahalla mielellä, to be in a good or bad humour. Olla hyvällä päällä, to feel courageous. Cf. Kal. xliv. 269, 270. Nuoret naiset naurusuulla, Emännät ilolla mielin.
In particular it is thus used with verbal nouns to express that an action is being undertaken. Kirjan käännös on tekeellä (or tekeilla), the translation of the book is being made. Kangas on kuteella, the cloth is being woven.
IV. By a closely analogous use the adessive signifies the occupation in which any one is engaged (cf. the use of the inessive in this sense). Olla ongella, nuotalla, to be engaged in fishing with a hook or net.
This use is particularly frequent in the case of games or meals. Olla päivällisellä, to be at dinner; olla aamiaisella, to be at breakfast; olla koppisilla, to be playing ball. Lapset ovat piiloisilla, the children are playing hide and seek.
V. The adessive is also used to signify with, near, or in the house of (French chez). Poika on meillä, le garçon est chez nous. Hänellä on vieraita, he has guests staying with him. Vietin kolme päivää eräällä ruotsalaisella herralla maalla, I spent three days with a Swedish gentleman in the country.
From an extension of this use it comes to denote possession, and in combination with the olla replaces the verb to have, which does not exist in Finnish. Minulla on kirja, I have a book. Hänellä on luunkolotus, he has the rheumatism. Mikä este sinulla oli? what hindered you?
In this idiom the verb is always in the third person sing., even though the substantive is in the nominative plur. Isällä on harmaat hiukset, the father has white hair. Onko teillä saksia? have you a pair of scissors? Hevonen on rengillä, the man has the horse. Hyvällä on nimiä paljo, pahalla tapoja paljo, good has many names and evil many shapes. Jumalalla on onnen ohjat, Luojalla lykyn avaimet (proverb), God has the reins of fortune, the Creator has the keys of luck. Cf. Kal. xliii. 337. Jumalall’ on ilman wiitta, Luojalla avaimet onnen.
VI. It also denotes the price at which a thing is bought or sold. Minä ostin kirjan kahdella markalla, I bought a book for two marks. Kauppamies möi kaikki tavaransa suurella voitolla, the merchant sold all his goods at a great profit. Ostin matot huokeammalla (hinnalla), kuin niiden arvo on, I bought these carpets for less than they are worth.
VII. Besides these various significations which can be deduced from the primary meaning of rest on, the adessive has quite another use, viz. as an instrumental to denote the means or the object by which an action is accomplished. It would seem that two originally distinct forms have been confused in the case as it at present exists in Finnish, though it might be possible to derive this instrumental meaning from the metaphorical uses quoted under III. Näin sen omilla silmilläni, I saw it with my own eyes. Oillä päivät jatketaan, virsillä vähät oluet (proverb), the days are lengthened by the nights, and a little beer goes further if one sings. Elä koukulla kohenna, kärryksellä käännyttele (Kal. xxiii. 401-2)—Kansalla karhukin kaadetaan (proverb).
VIII. From this use is derived another, signifying the way in which anything is done. Ilolla, joyfully. Monella tavalla, in many ways; ei millään tavalla, in no way at all. Sen teen mielelläni, I do it with pleasure.
Ablative.
I. The ablative expresses motion from the surface of anything. Lapsi putosi pöydältä, the child fell from the table. Ei köyhä korkealta kaadu, luudan päältä lattialle, the poor cannot have a great fall: only as high as a besom from the floor (proverb). Korkealta kakko lenti ... Allit aalloilta syviltä, Joutsenet sulilta soilta, the eagle flew from high, the wild duck from the deep waves, the swans from the watery marshes.
II. It is also used in various expressions denoting time.
A. In such sentences as ‘year after year,’ ‘day after day.’ In Finnish the first word is put in the nominative and the second in the ablative. Päivä päivältä hän tulee kipeämmäksi, day by day he gets worse. Myrsky kiihtyy hetki hetkeltä, the storm grows stronger every hour. Odotan häntä tunti tunnilta, I expect him every hour.
B. In sentences expressing money earned in a given time. Hän saa kaksituhatta markkaa vuodelta, he receives two thousand marks a year. Maksavat rengille viisitoista ruplaa kuukaudelta, the servant is paid fifteen roubles a month.
C. The time from which anything begins. Kaupunki on viima vuosisadalta, the house dates from the last century. Niinkuin asetus tammikuun viidenneltä päivältä määrää, according to the provisions of the decree of January 5.
Similarly—Kello kuudelta aamulla nousin työtä tekemään, I begin to work at (that is, beginning from) six o’clock in the morning. Tulee pimeä jo kello neljältä, it gets dark at four o’clock.
III. It is used analogously to the adessive (No. IV), to express cessation from an occupation, game, or meal. Miehet tulivat ongelta, the men came home from fishing. Tulimme päivälliseltä, we came from dinner. Lapset lakkasivat sokkosilta, the children stopped playing blind man’s buff.
IV. The ablative denotes motion from a person or from his house. Vierahat tulivat teiltä, the strangers came from you. Palvelija tuli isännältä, the servant came from his master. Cf. Ostin tavaroita kauppamieheltä, I bought some goods of the merchant. So also Minä sain äidiltäni kirjeen, I received a letter from my mother. Kysyivät häneltä, they asked of him.
V. From the idea of separation the ablative comes to denote the person who loses anything or from whom anything is hidden, defended, etc. It becomes in fact very nearly what is called the ‘dativus incommodi’ in Latin Grammar. Häneltä kuoli äiti, his mother died (died from him). Ei Jumala kiellä lapsiltansa iloa, God does not forbid joy to his children. Ei tytär salaa äidiltänsä mitään, the daughter hides nothing from her mother.
VI. The cause which prevents an action is put in the ablative. Tyttö ei päässyt kotoa astiain pesulta, the maid could not leave the house because she had to wash the things. En jouda kesäisiltä kiirehiltä, I cannot come on account of the work that has to be done in summer. En voinut nukkua koiran haukunnalta, I could not sleep on account of the dogs barking.
VII. The ablative is also used to denote the part or quality with respect to which anything is predicated of an object. Hän on hyvä tavoiltansa, he has a good disposition. Munat ovat väriltään ja suuruudeltaan erilaisia, eggs are of different colours and sizes. Poika on iältään jo kymmenvuotias, the boy is ten years old (in his life). Tyttö on solakka varreltaan, the girl has a graceful figure. Ukko on vielä ketterä jalalta, the old man is still quick-footed. Tunnen hänen näöltä, I know him by sight. Mies on Matti nimeltä, the man is Matthew by name.
VIII. It is apparently to this use that must be traced such expressions as maistua hyvältä, karvaalta, to taste good or bitter.
Verbs which express the impression made by an object on the senses are generally followed by an adjective in the ablative describing the nature of the sensation. If it is remembered that the distinction between the adjective and substantive is very slight, we may explain such a phrase as näyttää kauniilta as looks with regard to beauty, that is, looks beautiful.
Examples—Hän näyti Saksalaiselta, he looked like a German. Miltä nyt tuntuu? how do you feel now? Mansikka maistuu makealta, strawberries taste sweet. Se näyttää luonnollisemmalta, it seems more natural.
Allative.
I. The allative expresses motion on to or into the neighbourhood of an object. Lapsi putosi lattialle, the child fell on to the floor. Tahdotteko viedä minun Uudelle Kadulle? will you show me the way to New Street? Lähen Pohjolan tuville, Lapin lasten tanterille, I go to the dwellings of the North, to the plains of the Laplanders.
II. It expresses also the external circumstances of an action when those circumstances are regarded as not already existing, but as to be entered on. Koska saatte työnne alkeille? when will your work be begun? Minä panen kankaan kuteille, I put the stuff to be woven.
III. Like the adessive and ablative it is used of occupations, games, or meals, in which one engages, but always with the idea of entering on or beginning. Menkäämme ongelle, let us go and fish. Emäntä on käskenyt ruoalle, the mistress of the house has asked us to dinner. Olen kutsuttu kahville, I am invited to take coffee. Lapset rupeevat piilosille, the children begin to play hide and seek.
IV. From meaning motion into the neighbourhood of an object or to the house of anyone (e.g. Meille tuli vieraita, guests came to see us), it comes to be used as a dative to express the remote object of an action. Äiti antoi kirjan pojallensa, the mother gave a book to her son. Jumala on laupias syntisille, God is merciful to sinners. Olen kiitollinen teille, I am obliged to you; olen ottanut itselleni vapauden, I have taken (for myself) the liberty. Minun on mahdoton määrätä aikaa takaisin tulolleni, I cannot fix the date of my return.
V. The allative is sometimes, though rarely, used in the way described under the ablative IX. Ilma näyttää kauniille, the weather looks fine. Cf. Kal. xli. 23. Jo kävi ilo ilolle, Riemu riemulle remahti, Tuntui soito soitannalle, etc.
Abessive.
The abessive expresses the absence of anything.
Joka syyttä suuttuu,
Se lahjatta leppyy,
He who is angry without a cause is reconciled without a reward (proverb).
Joka kuritta kasvaa,
Se kunniatta kuolee,
He who grows up without education dies without honour (proverb), Olkaa huoletta, don’t trouble yourself (be without care). Elä suihki sutsunatta, Eläkäräämi rätsinättä, Elä liiku liinaisetta (Kal. xxiii. 215), go not without raiment, wander not without a shirt, stray not without a kerchief. Vanhempien tiedotta, without the knowledge of one’s parents. Muitten avutta, without the help of others.
For emphasis the particle ilman is placed before the abessive.
Ilman tau’in tappamatta,
Ottamatta oivan surman,
Without being slain by disease or taken by a natural death (Kal. xvi. 178, 9).
The use of the abessive of the third infinitive is particularly frequent, see below, p. [193].
Essive.
I. The original use of the essive is locative, but this only survives in some adverbial expressions: ulkona, out of doors; kaukana, far; luona, near; takana, behind; kotona, at home; läsnä olla, to be present; kokonansa, altogether (in its entirety); keskenänne, keskenänsä, etc., between you, them; and such expressions as olla rannempana, to be near shore; olla sisempänä, to be inside.
II. From this use comes that denoting a definite period of time during which something happens; tänäpänä, to-day; huomenna, to-morrow; Maanantaina, Tiistaina, etc., on Monday, Tuesday, etc. En ole maannut kolmena viimeisenä yönä, I have not slept there the last three nights. Ihmiset käyvät pyhänä kirkossa, people go to church on a Saint’s day. Eip’ on toiste tullutkana, Ei toiste sinä ikänä, She never came again, Never again in this life (Kal. v. 138). Jo päivänä muutamana, huomenna moniahana (Kal. v. 53).
III. From a metaphorical use of this local meaning the essive comes to denote the character or state in which the subject of a sentence is. It is used thus—
(1) As the predicate. Isäni on pappina, my father is a priest.
Taivas köyhän kattona,
Maantie permantona (proverb),
The sky is the roof of the poor man and the high road his floor. Mikä on asiana? what’s the matter?
(2) As the appositional case.
Minkä nuorena oppii
Sen vanhana muistaa (proverb),
What one learns young one remembers when old. Nuorna vitsa väännettävä, one should bend the bough while it’s young (proverb). Poikana minä en tuntenut häntä, as a boy I never knew him.
Translative.
I. The original meaning of the translative, like that of the illative and allative, seems to be motion to; but this only survives in a few adverbs. Ulos, out of doors (‘foras’); luoksi or luoʻ, to; taakse or taaʻ, backwards; sisemmäksi, inwards; rannemmaksi, nearer shore.
II. In a temporal sense the translative is used to express the time in which a thing is to be (not was) accomplished. Poika rupesi palvelukseen vuodeksi, the boy entered service for a year. Hän jäi meille yöksi, he stayed with us for the night (the event, though in the past, is regarded from the point of view when it was future).
It also expresses a limit of time: tämä kirja valmistuu jouluksi, the book will be ready by Christmas. Voinko saada ne ensi maanantaiksi? can I have them by next Monday?
It is also used to express place in numerical order. Ensiksi, first, in the first place; toiseksi, in the second place.
III. The most frequent signification of the translative is metaphorical, viz. the state into which anyone or anything passes. It can be used thus after transitive and intransitive verbs. Tulla köyhäksi, to become poor. Ilma ei muutu selkeäksi, the weather does not become clearer. Ne tulevat valmiiksi, they will be ready. Myrsky käy raivoisaksi, the storm grows high. Emäntä leipoi jauhot leiviksi, the housewife baked the flour into bread. Itse tuon sanoiksi virkkoi, (frequent phrase in Kalevala), himself thus put this into words. Kaupunki paloi tuhaksi, the town was burnt to ashes.
It is also used as a complement after verbs of naming, calling, considering, perceiving, etc. (v. p. [201]), the idea being that in consequence of the action of such verbs the object passes into a new state. Kutsutte minun mestariksi ja Herraksi, ye call me master and Lord. Näkivät hänen kuolleeksi, they saw he was dead. Älkää pahaksi panko, don’t take it amiss. Tunnen itseni hyvin sairaaksi, I feel very ill. The verb pitää is peculiar in always taking the essive, and not translative, after it. E.g. Pitää jotakin häpeänä, to think a thing a shame.
IV. It also expresses the purpose or use for which anything serves. Hän kelpaa opettajaksi, he is fit for a schoolmaster. Mitä voin tehdä palvelukseksenne? what can I do for you (for your service)? Olkoon tämä teille opiksi, let this be a lesson to you. Yhtiö lasten suojelemiseksi, a society for protecting children. Juon viiniä terveydekseni, I drink wine for my health. Juoda onneksi, to drink to some one’s health.
By an extension of this use the translative is used almost like the essive (cf. the dative of the complement in Latin). Se on hänelle häpeäksi, he ought to be ashamed of it (it is for a shame to him). Compare also miksi? why?
The translative can be used idiomatically in such phrases as He speaks Finnish well for a foreigner, or considering that he is a foreigner, hän puhuu suomea hyvin ulkomaalaiseksi. So too, Laiva on purreksi hyvä kulkemaan, the ship goes well for a sailing-boat. Poika on liian viisas ikäiseksensä, the boy is very clever for his age. A good example of this use is found in Kal. v. 63 ff. Sileähk’ on silkaseksi, Kuleahka kuujaseksi, Evätöin emäkalaksi, Ihala imehnoksiki, Pää-rivatoin neitoseksi, Vyötöin veen on tyttöseksi, Korvitoin kotikanaksi.
VI. This use is analogous to the adverbial use of the translative, which is frequent. For instance, pahaksi (or kovaksi), hyväksi onneksi, fortunately, unfortunately. Osaksi, partly. Elää herroiksi, to live en grand seigneur.
With this may be compared its use to express the language in which anything is written. Kirja on käännetty suomeksi, the book is translated in Finnish. So Saksaksi, in German; Ruotsiksi, in Swedish; Venäjäksi, in Russian.
Comitative.
I. The comitative is used to express the person in whose company, or the object in connection with which an action takes place. It is always used in spoken Finnish in the plural, even if only one person or object is referred to, but in the old language and in printed books the singular is sometimes found. It nearly always takes a pronominal affix. Mies meni pois vaimoinensa, the man went away with his wife. Vetivät verkon kaloinensa, they drew in the net with the fish. Otti lapsen äitinensä, he took the child with its mother. Kesä on tullut ihanine ilmoinensa, the summer is come with beautiful weather. Sata miestä miekkoinensa, a hundred men with their swords (Kal. xi. 100).
When the comitative is combined with an attribute, the latter frequently ends in n, not ne. For instance, järvet saoin saarinensa, lakes with a hundred islands (Kal. xxiv. 459). Ei hänen sovi tulla tänne tuhmin tapoinensa, he ought not to come here with his foolish ways. Älä tule sisään likaisin jalkoinesi, don’t come in with your dirty feet.
Copious examples of this case will be found in Kalevala, xxiv. 444-462. Jää nyt pirtti terveheksi, Pirtti lautakattonesi, etc.
Instructive.
I. The instructive is used to express the instrument or the manner in which an action is performed. The instructive of substantives is chiefly used of parts of the body and in modern Finnish always in the plural. Paljain jaloin, with bare legs, barelegged. Poika meni ulkos paljain päin, the boy went out bareheaded. Omin käsin, with one’s own hands; omin silmin, with one’s own eyes. Ristissä käsin, with hands crossed. Kaikki huonekalut ovat sikin sokin, all the furniture is topsy-turvy. Kulkea jalan, to go on foot. Alla päin, with one’s head hanging down (Kal. iii. 501 and following lines). On meillä valta omin luvin tulla huoneesenne, we have authority to come into your room without asking leave. Kahden ynnä, both together; yksin mielin, with one accord; yksin syntyi Wäinämöinen, Wäinämöinen was born alone.
It is noticeable that generally when this case is used, either a noun with an adjective is found or two nouns both in the instructive. Thus one can say kissa repi ovea kynsin hampain, whereas if only one word were used it would be better to use kynsillä or hampailla.
The instructive rarely takes pronominal suffixes. Kal. ix. 507, 509, En liiku omin lihoini ... En väiky omin väkini.
II. The instructive of adjectives is frequently used adverbially to express manner.
(1) The instructive singular of an adjective is used adverbially to qualify another adjective or adverb in the positive. Tavattoman kaunis, exceedingly beautiful; kauhean ruma, horribly ugly; hyvin hyvä, very good; tämä yö oli hirveän pitkä, the night was terribly long.
(2) The instrumental plural of adjectives in the comparative or superlative is used to define verbs. Puhu nopeammin, speak quicker; aurinko paistaa kirkkaammin, the sun shines brighter.
III. The instructive plural is also used in a temporal sense, and denotes an indefinite or recurring period of time. Thus linnut laulavat illoin, aamuin, the birds sing in the morning, in the evening (whereas if a definite morning or evening is meant the essive must be used). In this sense the termination sin is often used, which is really the instructive plural of an adjective with a nominative nen formed from the noun. Thus me alamme työn aamuisin kello kahdeksasta, we begin to work at eight in the morning. Iltaisin rupeamme aikaisemmin maata, we go to led earlier in the evening. Hän tekee talvisin kauppamatkoja, he makes business journeys in the winter. Onko teillä tapa valvoa öisin? are you in the habit of not sleeping at night?
This same ending is added to substantives in a sense somewhat analogous to the prolative. Minä menen rautateisin, I go by rail. Sotaväki matkusti osaksi maisin osaksi merisin, the troops travelled partly by land, partly by sea.
Prolative.
This case is rarely used, and in fact has no sense when formed from any but substantives expressing some kind of local position. It expresses motion by or over anything, and is chiefly employed in adverbial expressions, and generally in the plural. Tulla meritse tai maitse, to come by sea or land. Järven ranatse, along the shore of the lake. Niemen nenitse, round the promontory. Aalloitse, by sea. Minä kylvän kyyhättelen Luojan sormien lomitse, I sow by the finger of God (lit. through the interval of the fingers). Kal. ii. 297 (Mehiläinen lenti) Otavaisten olkapäitse, Seitsentähty en selitse, (the bee flew) over the shoulder of the great bear, over the back of the seven stars.