A Finnish Grammar

by Charles Eliot

I. The strict literal use is to denote motion from an interior. Mies lähti tuvasta, the man went out of the hut. Lohi hyppäsi merestä, the salmon leapt out of the sea. Metsästäjä tuli kotia metsästä, the huntsman came home from the forest. Kaatakaa olut pullosta lasiin, pour the beer out of the bottle into the glass.

II. In expressing time, the elative is used to denote the beginning of a period—that is to say, the period is regarded as setting forth from a given date. Pääsiäisestä on seitsemän viikkoa Helluntaihin, from Easter to Whitsuntide is seven weeks. Eilisestä illasta alkaen, since last night. Me läksimme matkaan aamusta, we set out in the morning (beginning from the morning). En ole nähnyt häntä Joulusta saakka, I have not seen him since Christmas. Siitä hetkestä, from that hour.

III, IV, V, VI. In all such expressions as those quoted under these headings for the inessive, the elative can be used when cessation from an occupation or condition, or purification from any defilement is to be expressed. Tulin kotiin tuiskusta ja tuulesta, I came home from the snow and wind. Kadota silmistä, näkyvistä, to disappear from view. Päästä pulasta, to get out of difficulties. Poika oti lakin päästänsä, the boy took the cap off his head. Pese nenäsi verestä, wash the blood off your nose. Pyyhi silmäsi kynelistä, dry your eyes. Järvi lähti jäästä, the lake became free of ice. Tulla pois työn teosta, kalasta, to cease working or fishing.

VII. The elative is also used by a natural transition to express separation or difference from. Minun on vaikea päästä virasta vapaakai, it is hard for me to get away from my work. Mies ei saa luopua vaimostansa, a man cannot be separated from his wife. Lätin kieli on kokonaan eroavainen Suomen kielestä, the Lettish language is perfectly different from Finnish.

Besides these uses, which are parallel with those of the inessive, the elative has a variety of other significations. These mostly arise in a quite intelligible manner, from the idea of motion from, taken in a metaphorical sense.

VIII. In many phrases the elative is used almost like the partitive, that is to say, it denotes one or more persons or things taken or selected from a number. Nuorin veljistä, the youngest of the brothers. Urhoollisin sotilaista, the bravest of the warriors. Laatokka on suurin Europan järvistä, Ladoga is the largest lake in Europe. Yksi näistä vaimoista, one of these women.

There is, however, a slight difference in the meaning of the elative and partitive in such expressions, inasmuch as the former always implies a certain part of a given quantity which is in the mind of the speaker. Thus one says kolme sisarta, three sisters, a merely numerical expression. But kolme sisaristani means three of my sisters. So naula voita means a pound of butter; but naula voista, a pound of the butter, referring to a particular kind or mass of butter.

IX. From denoting the starting-point, the elative is used to express the origin or cause of anything, or the material from which a thing is made. Kuolla myrkystä, to die of poison. Hän puhisi vihasta, he snorted from anger. Poika oli kylmästä köntistyneenä, the boy was numb with cold. Tyhjästä loi Jumala maailman, God created the world from Chaos. Hänestä tuli kelpo sotilas, he made a good soldier. Ei lapsesta laulajaksi, a child can’t be a singer (proverb). Hän on hyvästä perheestä, he is of good family. Sanasta sana syntyy, kypenestä maa kytee, one word gives birth to another, and the world catches fire from a spark. Sormus on tehty kullasta, the ring is made of gold. Munan kuori on kovasta aineesta, the shell of an egg is of a hard substance. Venäjän valtio on kokoonpantu monenlaisista kansallisuuksista, the Russian empire is composed of many nationalities.

In this sense it is often used to denote the object, particularly with words denoting speaking or some feeling. For instance, puhua asiasta, to speak of a thing, the thing being regarded as the point from which a conversation is started. Kiitoksia kysymästänne, thanks for your question. Siitä voitte olla varma, you may be sure of it. Mitä pidätte Suomen kielestä? How do you like Finnish? En välitä kenestäkään, I don’t care for anybody. Älkää surko huomisesta päivästä, take no thought for the morrow.