The Relative Pronoun joka
The relative pronoun joka (who, which, that) connects clauses by referring back to the noun right before it. It changes its case to match its grammatical role inside the new clause. Here, we'll use joka in the essive and translative cases to describe milestones and changes of state.
Time and Periods: The Essive Case (jona, joina)
The essive case (ending in -na/-nä) is common in time expressions meaning "on" or "during" a specific time. To say "the day on which" or "the period during which," use the essive forms jona (singular) and joina (plural).
| Tomorrow is an anniversary on which I must celebrate the right to vote. | Huomenna on merkkipäivä, jona minun täytyy juhlia äänioikeutta. |
| The post-war era was a period during which the country changed rapidly. | Sodanjälkeinen aikakausi oli ajanjakso, jona maa muuttui nopeasti. |
When referring back to a plural time period like "years" (vuodet), use the plural form joina.
| I remember those years during which people did not have the right to vote. | Minä muistan ne vuodet, joina ihmisillä ei ollut äänioikeutta. |
Transformations and Roles: The Translative Case (joksi, joiksi)
The translative case (ending in -ksi) expresses a change of state, a transformation, or a new role. Verbs like muuttua (to change into), valmistua (to graduate as), and nimittää (to appoint as) require the translative case for their outcome.
When the relative pronoun represents this new role or outcome, it becomes joksi (singular) or joiksi (plural).
| This is the new profession as which I finally graduated. | Tämä on se uusi ammatti, joksi minä vihdoin valmistuin. |
| This is the reality into which the dream turned. | Tämä on se todellisuus, joksi unelma muuttui. |
For plural nouns, use joiksi.
| These are the roles as which the teacher appointed us. | Nämä ovat ne roolit, joiksi opettaja meidät nimitti. |
