Deadlines and duration (-ksi)

The Translative Case for Deadlines

In Finnish, the translative case (ending in -ksi) is used to express deadlines, meaning "by" or "for" a certain time. Add -ksi to the inflectional stem of the time word.

I will draw up the draft by the end of the week.
Laadin luonnoksen loppuviikoksi.
Is the estimate ready by the deadline?
Onko arvio valmis määräajaksi?

Use the -ksi ending when postponing (lykätä) or rescheduling an event to a new time.

I have to postpone the deadline to Friday.
Minun täytyy lykätä määräaika perjantaiksi.

Expressing Intended Duration

The -ksi ending is also used to express intended duration. When you do something "for" a specific period of time, attach -ksi to the time word.

We need the estimate for a week.
Tarvitsemme arvion viikoksi.
Are you traveling to Spain for a month?
Matkustatko Espanjaan kuukaudeksi?

Discussing Project Deliverables

When organizing timelines, you will often discuss drafts, estimates, and proposals. Notice how the deadline structure combines with these workplace nouns.

We will leave the final proposal for Tuesday.
Jätämme lopullisen ehdotuksen tiistaiksi.

If a deadline is approaching too fast, you might need to speed things up (nopeuttaa) instead of postponing them:

The boss says that we have to speed up the first phase.
Pomo sanoo, että meidän täytyy nopeuttaa ensimmäistä vaihetta.