The Ablative Case: "From Someone"
In Finnish, when you receive, borrow, or ask for something from a person, you use the ablative case. You form this by adding the suffix -lta or -ltä (depending on vowel harmony) to the noun.
When asking "from whom?", use the question word keneltä.
| Who do you get money from? | Keneltä sinä saat rahaa? |
| I get help from the boss. | Minä saan apua pomolta. |
Borrowing and Asking
Verbs like lainata (to borrow) and pyytää (to ask for) also use -lta/-ltä for the person you are asking or borrowing from.
| Who do you borrow money from? | Keneltä te lainaatte rahaa? |
| I borrow a car from the neighbor. | Minä lainaan auton naapurilta. |
| He asks the boss for permission. | Hän pyytää lupaa pomolta. |
Moving "Off" a Surface
The -lta/-ltä suffix is also used to describe movement off a surface. If a wallet falls off a table (pöytä), the table takes the -lta/-ltä suffix.
| The wallet falls off the table. | Lompakko putoaa pöydältä. |
In Finnish, finding an object on an open surface (like a floor) translates conceptually to taking it from that place.
| I find the wallet on the floor. | Minä löydän lompakon lattialta. |
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