Becoming Something (-ksi)

Level 3

The translative case (ending in -ksi) is used with verbs of 'becoming' to mark the result of a change. It answers the question miksi? (into what?).

How It Works

The translative case is the primary way to express a transition from one state to another.

1. Formation:
The suffix is -ksi in the singular and -iksi in the plural. It follows the same consonant gradation rules as the genitive singular: Type A words use the weak grade, while words with inverse gradation (Type B) use the strong grade.

  • tyttö (girl) → tytöksi (Type A: weak)
  • osoite (address) → osoitteeksi (Type B: strong)
  • punainen (red) → punaiseksi (words ending in -nen change to -se-)

2. Common Verbs:

  • muuttua: Used for transformations. Vesi muuttui jääksi (Water turned into ice).
  • tulla: Used when the subject changes state. Hän tuli sairaaksi (He became ill).
  • valmistua: Used for professional roles. Hän valmistui insinööriksi (He graduated as an engineer).
  • valita / nimittää: Used for choosing or naming someone to a position. Hänet valittiin puheenjohtajaksi (He was elected as chairman).
  • kääntää: Used for translating languages. Käänsin kirjan suomeksi (I translated the book into Finnish).
  • luulla: Used for mistaken identity. Luulin häntä opettajaksi (I mistook him for a teacher).

3. The 'Hänestä tuli...' Exception:
Note that when using the construction 'Hänestä tuli...' (He became...), the result is in the nominative case for singular nouns (e.g., Hänestä tuli isä). However, if the result is plural, both nouns and adjectives take the partitive case (e.g., Heistä tuli opettajia - They became teachers; Heistä tuli hulluja - They became crazy).

Examples (5)

  1. Sää muuttui äkkiä kylmäksi.

    The weather suddenly turned cold.

    Word by Word: Weather changed suddenly cold-into.

    The verb 'muuttua' (to change) requires the translative case for the resulting state.

  2. Hän opiskelee lääkäriksi Turussa.

    He is studying to be a doctor in Turku.

    Word by Word: He studies doctor-into Turku-in.

    When studying for a specific profession, the goal/role is put in the translative.

  3. Vesi muuttui viiniksi.

    Water turned into wine.

    Word by Word: Water changed wine-into.

    A classic example of a complete transformation from one substance to another.

  4. Lapset tulivat iloisiksi.

    The children became happy.

    Word by Word: Children became happy-into (plural).

    Note the plural translative ending -iksi because the subject 'lapset' is plural.

  5. Hän valmistui opettajaksi viime vuonna.

    She graduated as a teacher last year.

    Word by Word: She graduated teacher-into last year.

    The verb 'valmistua' (to graduate) takes the translative to show the professional qualification earned.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the nominative case with 'muuttua'.

    Sää muuttui kylmä.
    Sää muuttui kylmäksi.

    In Finnish, you cannot just say 'changed cold'; you must use the translative to show the result of the change.

  • Hän tuli opettajana is fine, but it means "he came as a teacher", not "he became a teacher".

    Different MeaningHän tuli opettajana.
    Hän tuli opettajaksi.

    The essive (-na) names the role someone has: tuli opettajana = came in the role of a teacher. The translative (-ksi) names the change: tuli opettajaksi = became a teacher.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Becoming Something (-ksi)Level 3

Learn This First

To understand verbs governing the translative, you first need to know how to form the translative case (-ksi). Additionally, since the verb 'tulla' (to become) often uses the elative case (-sta) to mark the subject undergoing the change, familiarity with that case and its basic verbal government is essential.

Words in This Pattern

-ksi