Illative
 
 
    
 

1   Case Endings

The illative singular ending is -Vn, -hVn, or -seen in which the V indicates the final vowel in the essive stem. The illative plural ending is -in, -hin, or -siin.

2   Formation

The illative always requires a stem in the strong grade. Therefore, the illative singular is formed using the essive stem and the illative plural using the strong-grade plural stem. For the illative singular, there are three different case endings. The ending -Vn is used, when the stem ends in a single vowel or a vowel cluster that does not form a diphthong. The ending -hVn is used, when the essive stem ends in a diphthong or a long vowel and the nominative stem ends in a vowel. The ending -seen is used, when the essive stem ends in a long vowel and the nominative stem ends in a consonant or a relic consonant. For the illative plural, there are three different case endings, too.

2.1   Words that end in a vowel

If a word ends in a single vowel or two vowels that do not form a diphthong and the stem ends in a single vowel, the illative singular is formed with the ending -Vn. Analogously, if the stem ends in a single vowel, the plural is formed with the ending -in.

Nominative

Illative sg

Illative pl

Translation

kova

kovaan

koviin

hard

reikä

reikään

reikiin

hole

vesi

veteen

vesiin

water

kansi

kanteen

kansiin

lid

jälsi

jälteen

jälsiin

cambium

virsi

virteen

virsiin

hymn

The illative plural ending -hin is used, when the strong-grade plural stem ends in a diphthong or a long vowel. The singular is formed with the ending -Vn as above.

Nominative

Illative sg

Illative pl

Translation

kana

kanaan

kanoihin

hen

nalle

nalleen

nalleihin

teddy bear

kiivi

kiiviin

kiiveihin

kiwi fruit

aatto

aattoon

aattoihin

eve

koulu

kouluun

kouluihin

school

pyry

pyryyn

pyryihin

snowstorm

säilö

säilöön

säilöihin

storage

neliö

neliöön

neliöihin

square

If a one-syllable word ends in a long vowel or a diphthong, the illative singular is formed by adding the ending -hVn to the essive stem. The plural is formed by adding the ending -hin to the strong-grade plural stem.

Nominative

Illative sg

Illative pl

Translation

maa

maahan

maihin

country

tee

teehen

teihin

tea

puu

puuhun

puihin

tree

pää

päähän

päihin

head

hai

haihin

haihin

shark

suo

suohon

soihin

marsh

tie

tiehen

teihin

road

työ

työhön

töihin

work

If a polysyllabic word ends in a long vowel or a diphthong, the illative singular is formed with the ending -seen. The plural is formed with the ending -siin.

Nominative

Illative sg

Illative pl

Translation

vapaa

vapaaseen

vapaisiin

free

tienoo

tienooseen

tienoisiin

region

hakkuu

hakkuuseen

hakkuisiin

logging

2.2   Words that end in a relic consonant

If a word ends in a relic consonant, the illative singular is formed with the ending -seen and the plural with the ending -siin or -hin.

Nominative

Illative sg

Illative pl

Translation

vene

veneeseen

veneisiin

boat

veneihin

koe

kokeeseen

kokeisiin

test

kokeihin

laite

laitteeseen

laitteisiin

device

laitteihin

2.3   Word ends in -l, -n, or r

If a word ends in -l, -n, or -r, the illative singular is formed with the ending -Vn and the plural with the ending -in.

Nominative

Illative sg

Illative pl

Translation

askel

askeleen

askeliin

step

kyynel

kyyneleen

kyyneliin

tear

sävel

säveleen

säveliin

note, melody

sammal

sammaleen

sammaliin

moss

nivel

niveleen

niveliin

joint

kannel

kanteleeseen

kanteleisiin

kantele

ommel

ompeleeseen

ompeleisiin

stitch

taival

taipaleeseen

taipaleisiin

trip

vemmel

vempeleeseen

vempeleisiin

avain

avaimeen

avaimiin

key

sydän

sydämeen

sydämiin

heart

hapan

happamaan

happamiin

bitter

lämmin

lämpimään

lämpimiin

warm

sisar

sisareen

sisariin

sister

tytär

tyttäreen

tyttäriin

daughter

In this group, there are words whose nominative stem can also have an additional -e. These words decline like the words ending in a relic consonant (see above).

Nominative

Illative sg

Illative pl

Translation

kantele (kannel)

kanteleeseen

kanteleisiin
kanteleihin

kantele
(an instrument)

kypene (kyven)

kypeneeseen

kypeneisiin
kypeneihin

spark

pientare (piennar)

pientareeseen

pientareisiin
pientareihin

edge, shoulder
(of a road)

2.5   Word ends in t

If a word ends in t, the illative singular is formed by lengthening the last vowel of the essive stem and adding -n after it. The illative plural is formed by adding the ending -siin to the strong-grade plural stem.

Nominative

Illative sg

Illative pl

Translation

ohut

ohueen

ohuisiin

thin

neitsyt

neitsyeen

neitsyihin

tear

lyhyt

lyhyeen

lyhyisiin

shot

olut

olueen

oluisiin

beer

tiehyt

tiehyeen

tiehyihin

duct