Six of the 15 Finnish cases form a sub-system of their own since their basic
function is the expression of place and direction. This important set of local
cases consists of the inessive -ssa ~ -ssä, the elative -sta ~ -stä, the illative -
Vn ~ -hVn ~ -seen ~ -siin (wher V stands for any vowel), the adessive -lla ~
-llä, the ablative -ltä ~ -ltä and the allative -lle.
The system of local cases is structured according to two dimensions. One
is location: ‘inside’ (or in immediate contact with) vs. ‘outside’. And the
other is direction: ‘static’, ‘movement towards’ and ‘movement away from’.
The six cases can be set out as follows; the table includes only one variant for
each case ending.
Location
Inside Outside
Static -ssa -lla
Direction Away from -sta -lta
Towards -Vn -lle
The use of the local cases is illustrated in the house diagram below; x
indicates ‘static’ location.
It must be remembered that the local cases also have many other meanings
apart from place and direction. Some may express for example time, reason,
instrument or manner.
108 Finnish: An Essential Grammar
