In English, we use prepositions like "according to" or "via" before a noun. In Finnish, these are usually postpositions, meaning they come after the noun.
When using the highly frequent postpositions mukaan (according to) and kautta (via / by means of), the preceding noun must be in the genitive case (ending in -n).
According to: mukaan
To state the source of your information, put the source in the genitive case and follow it with mukaan. For example, uutistoimisto (news agency) becomes uutistoimiston mukaan (according to the news agency).
| According to the news agency, the war is over. | Uutistoimiston mukaan sota on ohi. |
| According to the diplomat, the situation is dangerous. | Diplomaatin mukaan tilanne on vaarallinen. |
| According to the ministry for foreign affairs, the treaty is legal. | Ulkoministeriön mukaan sopimus on laillinen. |
Via or By means of: kautta
To express the channel, route, or medium through which something happens, use the postposition kautta. Just like with mukaan, the noun preceding kautta takes the genitive -n ending.
For example, kirjeenvaihtaja (correspondent) becomes kirjeenvaihtajan kautta (via the correspondent).
| The information leaked via the correspondent. | Tieto vuoti kirjeenvaihtajan kautta. |
| The diplomat sent the message via the ministry for foreign affairs. | Diplomaatti lähetti viestin ulkoministeriön kautta. |
| We heard about the threat via the intelligence service. | Kuulimme uhasta tiedustelupalvelun kautta. |
You can use kautta for both physical routes (like traveling through a city center) and abstract mediums (like sending a message through a diplomatic channel or the internet).
| I wonder if the negotiator is coming via the city center? | Tuleekohan neuvottelija keskustan kautta? |
| The diplomatic network operates via the internet. | Diplomaattinen verkosto toimii netin kautta. |