-ksi

The translative case is a versatile tool in Finnish grammar. Its primary functions include:

• Change of State: Used with verbs like muuttua (to change) or tulla (to become). Example: Vesi muuttui jääksi (Water turned into ice).
• Result of Action or Role: Used when an action results in a new state or role. Example: Valitsimme hänet puheenjohtajaksi (We chose him as chairperson).
• Feeling or Perception: Used with verbs like tuntea (to feel) or tehdä (to make). Example: Tunnen itseni sairaaksi (I feel sick) or Se tekee minut iloiseksi (It makes me happy).
• Naming, Calling, and Mistaking: Used with verbs like kutsua (to call), nimittää (to name), or luulla (to mistake for). Example: Kutsun häntä ystäväkseni (I call him my friend).
• Intended Duration and Deadlines: Marking how long a planned stay lasts or a point in time by which something must be done. Example: Menen kotiin viikonlopuksi (I am going home for the weekend) or Tee se huomiseksi (Do it by tomorrow). Compare viivyin viikon (I stayed a week), which measures duration, with lähdin viikoksi (I left for a week), which sets the intended period. A duration phrase without -ksi need not describe an already completed event.
• Sequence and Order: Used to express the order of events or points in a list. Example: ensimmäiseksi (firstly), toiseksi (secondly), and viimeiseksi (lastly).
• Estimation or Opinion: Expressing 'for a...' or 'considering it is a...'. Example: Hän on ikäisekseen pitkä (He is tall for his age).
• Languages: When translating or expressing something 'in' a language. Example: Sano se suomeksi (Say it in Finnish).
• Purpose (with verbs): The final construction adds the translative marker -kse- directly to the entire first infinitive (dictionary form), followed by a possessive suffix, to mean 'in order to' (e.g., lukea + kse + ni = lukeakseni). Note that this verb purpose construction retains the exact consonant grade of its dictionary form and does not trigger consonant gradation (e.g., nukkua → nukkuakseni). Additionally, for the third person (hän/he), the possessive suffix is -en, resulting in the ending -kseen (e.g., oppiakseen). Example: Luen oppiakseni (I read in order to learn).

Formation:
The ending -ksi is added to the vowel stem of the word. For words subject to consonant gradation, it uses the weak grade for word type A (e.g., tulkki → tulkiksi) and the strong grade for word type B (e.g., saapas → saappaaksi).

• Adjective Agreement: Adjectives modifying a noun must also take the translative case. Example: uudeksi puheenjohtajaksi (as the new chairperson).
• In the common huone type, final -e becomes -ee-: huone → huoneeksi.
• Words ending in -nen change to -se-: punainen → punaiseksi.
• Plural: The translative plural uses the plural stem ending in -i-, resulting in the ending -iksi. Example: mustiksi aukoiksi (into black holes).
• If a possessive suffix is added, the ending becomes -kse-: onnekseni (to my luck).