Finnish

Adverb

yli

1. yli + number: over

   Auto maksoi yli 200 000 (= kaksisataatuhatta) euroa.

   The car cost over 200,000 euros.

Antonyms

• (over): alle

Postposition

yli

1. yli + object in genitive form: over (when one goes through the space that is above something):

   Pallo lensi tuolin yli ja ovesta ulos.

   The ball flew over the chair and out of the door.

2. yli + object in genitive or partitive form: after, past (temporal)

   Kello on vartin yli kuusi.

   It's quarter past/after six.

   Kello on viittä (minuuttia) yli kuusi.

   It's five (minutes) past/after six.

Usage notes

When using the construction yli to indicate time both genitive and partitive forms are possible. Perhaps the explanation is that the case is actually accusative, which in Finnish has two forms. Genitive-accusative is used with clearly defined objects and partitive with so called partial objects. To demonstrate the difference, leikkaan ruohikon means that I will cut the whole lawn whereas leikkaan ruohikkoa means that I'm cutting the lawn but I have not finished yet or that I'm planning to cut only part of it. If that is the case vartin yli would be a slightly more precise expression than varttia yli. However, it is more likely just a question of personal preference, possibly influenced by the fact that "a quarter to" is always varttia vaille.

Synonyms

• (over): ylitse

Antonyms

• (over): ali, alitse

Inflection

See ylä-.

Related terms

• ylä-
• yli-
• ylittää
• ylittyä
• yltää
• yltyä