Finnish Grammar

Alphabet

1 Letters The Finnish alphabet has 29 letters: a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n,o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z, å, ä j a ö. The letters š and ž can occur only in loan words.

2 Inflection Letters are declined in 15 cases like other nominals, too. A letter or a letter combination that is pronounced letter by letter are separated from a case ending and a possible plural marker by a colon, e.g. A:sta B:hen 'from A to B', LP:iden ja CD:iden myynti 'sale of LPs and CDs', EU:ssa 'in the EU', WC:hen 'into the WC', WC:istä 'from the WCs', and tv:ssä 'in the TV'. If the vowel in the case ending is a part of a long vowel, both vowels are written after the colon. This applies to the partitive and illative of some letters, e.g. n:ää 'n' (partitive) and s:ään 'into s' (illative).

Vowels

1 Vowel Phonems There are 8 vowel phonemes in Finnish: [a], [e], [i], [o], [u], [y], [æ], and [ø]. Back vowels are a [a], o [o], and u [u], middle vowels are e [e] and i[i], and front vowels are ä [æ], ö [ø], and y [y]. The guideline for pronunciation follows the system of the International Phonetic Alphabet(IPA). Back vowels

Middle vowels

Front vowels

a

e

ä

o

i

ö

u

y

2 Duration The vowels have two durations: short and long. A short vowel is written with one letter and a long one with two letters.

Consonants

1 Consonant Phonemes There are 13 consonant phonemes in Finnish: [d], [h], [j], [k], [l], [m], [n], [ŋ], [p], [r], [s], [t], and [v]. Phonemes [b], [f], [g], [ʃ], [z], and [ʒ] may occur only in loan words.

2 Duration Consonants have two durations: short and long. A short consonant is written with one letter and a long consonant usually with two similar letters. In native Finnish words, only the phonemes [h], [j], [k], [l], [m], [n], [ŋ], [p], [r], [s], [t], and [v] can occur as long consonants. The [j] phoneme is pronounced long only after a diphthong in which the second component is i, e.g. leija [leijja] 'kite' and tuija [tuijja] 'arborvitae (Thuja)'. Accordingly, the [v] phoneme is pronounced long after a diphthong in which the second component is u, e.g. vauva [vauvva] 'baby' and sauva [sauvva] 'stick'. The long consonant is written with a single letter in both cases. The [ŋ] phoneme has no letter of its own. The long [ŋ] phoneme may occur only between two vowels and it is marked with ng then, e.g. kengät [keŋŋæt] 'shoes' and kuningas [kuniŋŋas] 'king'. The short [ŋ] phoneme is marked with n in front of k, e.g. kenkä [keŋkæ] 'shoe' and sanka [saŋka] 'handle', and with g in front of n, e.g. signaali [siŋna:li] 'signal' and magneetti [maŋne:tti] 'magnet', and with ng elsewhere, e.g. englanti [eŋlanti] 'English' and kongressi [koŋressi] 'congress'.

Consonant gradation Strong grade

Weak grade

KK/PP/TT kukka pappi matto

K/P/T kukan papin maton

flower pastor carpet

of the flower of the pastor of the carpet

K/P/T käki kyky käpy koti

-(V)/V/D käen kyvyn kävyn kodin

cuckoo ability cone home

of the cuckoo of the ability of the cone of the home

LK/LP/LT jalka jälki halpa silta

L(J)/LV/LL jalan jäljen halvan sillan

foot track cheap bridge

of the foot of the track of the cheap (thing) of the brigde

RK/RP/RT märkä kurki arpa kerta

R(J)/RV/RR märän kurjen arvan kerran

wet crane lot time

of the wet (thing) of the crane of the lot of the time

NK/MP/NT kenkä kampa ranta

NG/MM/NN kengän kamman rannan

shoe comb shore

of the shoe of the comb of the shore

HK/(HP)/HT vihko

H/-/HD vihon

notebook

of the notebook

lahti

lahden

bay

of the bay

GG/BB/(DD) diggaan dubbaan

G/B/digata dubata

I like I dub

to like to dub

Vowel change I > E Nominative

Genetive

Partitive

English

alpi appi arki arpi hanhi hanki happi hapsi hauki heisi helmi henki hetki hiili hiiri hiisi hiki hirsi hirvi huoli huuli impi joki jouhi jousi juoni juuri jälki jälsi järki järvi Jääski kaali kaari kaihi kaikki kaksi kampi kanki kansi karhi kaski kausi

alven apen arjen arven hanhen hangen hapen hapsen hauen heiden helmen hengen hetken hiilen hiiren hiiden hien hirren hirven huolen huulen immen joen jouhen jousen juonen juuren jäljen jällen järjen järven Jääsken kaalen¹ kaaren kaihen kaiken kahden kammen kangen kannen karhen kasken kauden

alpea appea arkea arpea hanhea hankea happea hasta / hapsea haukea heittä helmeä henkeä hetkeä hiiltä hiirtä hiittä hikeä hirttä hirveä huolta huulta impeä jokea jouhea jousta juonta juurta jälkeä jälttä järkeä järveä Jääskeä kaalta¹ kaarta kaihea kaikkea kahta kampea kankea kantta karhea kaskea kautta

loosestrife (Lysimachia) father-in-law workday scar goose snow oxygen slight hair pike cranberry bush (Viburnum) pearl breath moment coal mouse holy grove sweat timber elk trouble lip virgin river horsehair bow vein root track cambium mind lake a town in Karelia cabbage curve cataract, glaucoma all two crank pry bar cover harrow burn-clearing era

kieli kiiski kilpi kirsi kivi koipi korpi korsi koski kuori kurki kusi kuusi kuusi kylki Kymi kynsi käki kärki käsi köysi lahti laki lampi lapsi lehti lempi leski liemi liesi lohi loimi Louhi lovi lumi luomi länki länsi meri mesi mieli moni mäki niemi niini nimi noki nummi

kielen kiisken kilven kirren kiven koiven korven korren kosken kuoren kurjen kusen kuuden kuusen kyljen Kymen kynnen käen kärjen käden köyden lahden laen lammen lapsen lehden lemmen lesken liemen lieden lohen loimen Louhen loven lumen luomen längen lännen meren meden mielen monen mäen niemen niinen nimen noen nummen

kieltä language, tongue kiiskeä ruffe kilpeä shield kirttä frost kiveä stone koipea leg korpea woods kortta straw koskea rapids kuorta peel kurkea crane kusta piss kuutta six kuusta spruce (Picea) kylkeä side Kymeä a river in Finland kynttä nail käkeä cockoo kärkeä point kättä hand köyttä rope lahtea bay lakea top (of a hill) lampea pond lasta child lehteä leaf lempeä love leskeä widow(er) lientä broth liettä stove lohta salmon loimea warp, blanket Louhea a figure in Kalevala lovea nick lunta snow luomea eyelid länkeä länttä west merta see mettä honey mieltä mind monta many mäkeä hill nientä / niemeä cape niintä bast nimeä name nokea soot nummea moor

nuoli nuori nurmi närhi onki onni orsi ovi paasi parsi parvi peitsi pieli pieni piki pilvi polvi ponsi poski povi puoli pursi putki pälvi

nuolen nuoren nurmen närhen ongen onnen orren oven paaden parren parven peitsen pielen pienen pien pilven polven ponnen posken poven puolen purren putken pälven

reki reisi retki riihi ripsi rupi ruuhi saari saarni saksi salmi sampi sappi sarvi savi seimi sieni siili siipi sini solki soppi sormi

reen reiden retken riihen ripsen ruven ruuhen saaren saarnen saksen salmen sammen sapen sarven saven seimen sienen siilen¹ siiven sinen soljen sopen sormen

nuolta arrow nuorta young nurmea grass närheä jay onkea rod and line onnea luck ortta perch ovea door paatta rock bench partta stall parvea flock peistä / peitseä lance pieltä edge pientä small pikeä pitch pilveä cloud polvea knee pontta anther poskea cheek povea bust puolta half purtta boat, yacht putkea pipe pälveä small snowless area (in the spring) rekeä sleigh reittä thigh retkeä trip riihtä drying barn ripseä eyelash rupea scab ruuhta punt saarta island saarnea ash saksea scissors salmea strait sampea sturgeon sappea gall bladder sarvea horn savea clay seimeä manger sientä mushroom siiltä¹ hedgehog siipeä wing sineä blue solkea buckle soppea place, corner sormea finger

suksi suoli Suomi suomi suoni susi suuri suvi syli sylki sysi sänki särki sääri sääski taimi talvi tammi teeri telki tiili tilhi toimi tonki torvi tosi tuki tuli tuohi tuomi

suksen suolen Suomen suomen suonen suden suuren suven sylen syljen syden sängen särjen säären sääsken taimen talven tammen teeren teljen tiilen tilhen toimen tongen torven toden tuen tulen tuohen tuomen

tuoni tuppi tuuli typpi tyvi tyyni tähti täysi uksi uni uuhi uusi varsi veitsi

tuonen tupen tuulen typen tyven tyynen tähden täyden uksen unen uuhen uuden varren veitsen

veli veri

veljen veren

suksea / susta suolta Suomea suomea suonta sutta suurta suvea syltä sylkeä syttä sänkeä särkeä säärtä sääskeä taimea talvea tammea teertä telkeä tiiltä tilheä tointa / toimea tonkea torvea totta tukea tulta tuohta tuomea / tuonta tuonta tuppea tuulta typpeä tyveä tyyntä tähteä täyttä usta unta uuhta uutta vartta veistä / veitseä¹ veljeä verta

ski intestine Finland Finnish blood vessel wolf big summer fathom saliva coal stubble roach shin mosquito seedling winter oak black grouse bolt brick waxwing job, post pliers horn true support fire birch bark black cherry death sheath wind nitrogen base still star full door sleep female sheep new stem knife brother blood

vesi vieri viiksi viini viisi virpi virsi vuohi Vuoksi vuori vuosi vyyhti väki yksi ääni ääri

veden vieren viiksen viinen viiden virven virren vuohen Vuoksen vuoren vuoden vyyhden väen yhden äänen äären

vettä viertä viikseä viintä viittä virpeä virttä vuohta Vuoksea vuorta vuotta vyyhteä väkeä yhtä ääntä äärtä

water side mustache quiver five twig hymn goat a river in Finland mountain year skein people one voice edge

¹ The inflectional form does not follow the paradigm shown in Nykysuomen sanakirja, but it is widely used.

Personal Pronouns

1 Inflection The personal pronouns are shown in the following table. Person

Singular

Plural

1st

minä

me

2nd

sinä

te

3rd

hän

he

The personal pronouns are declined in all cases except for the comitative and instructive. There are no grammatical genders in Finnish and that is why there is only one pronoun for the third person singular (he and she) and also for the third person plural (they).

Demonstrative Pronouns

1 Inflection The demonstrative pronouns are shown in the following table. Singular

Plural

tämä

nämä

tuo

nuo

se

ne

The demonstrative are declined in all cases. Some adverbial cases are also possible.

2 Usage Demonstrative pronouns can stand alone or be used with a noun. When used with a noun, the demonstrative pronoun is between a preposition and attributes. preposition + demonstrative pronoun + attributes + noun demonstrative pronoun + attributes + noun + postposition

2.1 Tämä and nämä The pronouns tämä 'this' and nämä 'these' are used to point out objects, people, or actions that are close to or within the reach of the speaker. Tämä on hauskaa!

This is funny! (The speaker is participating in an action that he or she likes.)

Tämä kirja on

This book is new.

uusi.

(The speaker is holding the book in his or her hand or it is close to him or her.)

Tämä and nämä are declined according to the word they determine. tässä suuressa kirjassa

in this big book

näissä suurissa kirjoissa

in these big books

ennen tätä kaunista päivää

before this nice day

näiden kauniiden päivien jälkeen

after these nice days

2.2 Tuo and nuo The pronouns tuo 'that' and nuo 'those' are used to point out objects, people, or actions that are far or not within the reach of the speaker, but they can be detected by the speaker. Tuo on hauskaa!

That is funny! (The speaker is watching an action that he or she likes.)

Tuo kirja on uusi.

That book is new. (The speaker is seeing the book on the table, but he or she cannot reach it.)

Tuo and nuo are declined according to the word they determine. tuohon vanhaan taloon

into that old house

noista uusista autoista

out of those new cars

tuon synkän metsän keskellä

in the middle of that dark forest

ennen noita kiireisiä ihmisiä

before those hurry people

2.3

Se and ne

The pronouns se 'it, the, such' and ne 'they, the, such' are used to point out objects, people, or actions that are unpresent or within the reach of the listener only. Se on hauskaa!

It is funny! (The speaker has heard of an action that he or she likes.)

Se kirja on uusi.

The/That book is new. (The speaker is seeing the listener hold the book in his or her hand or the book is not present in the room where the speaker is.)

Se and ne are declined according to the word they determine. sille vanhalle pöydälle

onto the/that old table

niiden pienten lasten

of the/those little children

siihen viimeiseen päivään asti

until the/that last day

kesken niiden pitkien puheluiden

in the middle of the/those long telephone calls

Reflexive Pronouns

1 Inflection The reflexive pronouns consist of the word itse and a possessive suffix. They are shown in the following table. Person

Singular

Plural

1st

itse + ni

itse + mme

2dn

itse + si

itse + nne

3rd

itse + nsä

itse + nsä

The reflexive pronouns are declined in all cases except for the abessive, comitative, and instructive.

Indefinite Pronouns

muu

other

jompikumpi

either one

kaikki

all

kumpikin

both

kumpikaan

neither

kumpainenkaan

neither

kukin

each

kukaan

anybody

mikin

each

mikään

anything

eräs

one

joku

somebody

jokin

something

moni

many

mones

[no translation]

molemmat

both

usea

many

jokainen

everybody

toinen

other

muutama

some

sama

same

yksi

one

Interrogative Pronouns

1 Inflection There are four interrogative pronouns in Finnish. They are shown in the following table. kuka

who

kumpainen

which, which one

kumpi

which, which one

mikä

what

The interrogative pronouns are declined in all cases. Some adverbial cases are also possible.

Reciprocal Pronouns toinen toisemme

each other (we)

toinen toisenne

each other (you)

toinen toisensa

each other (they)

Relative Pronouns

Numbers

joka

which

mikä

what

1 Cardinal Numbers The cardinal numbers are the following: In Numbers

In Letters

0

nolla

1

yksi

2

kaksi

3

kolme

4

neljä

5

viisi

6

kuusi

7

seitsemän

8

kahdeksan

9

yhdeksän

10

kymmenen

11

yksitoista

12

kaksitoista

13

kolmetoista

14

neljätoista

15

viisitoista

16

kuusitoista

17

seitsemäntoista

18

kahdeksantoista

19

yhdeksäntoista

20

kaksikymmentä

21

kaksikymmentäyksi

22

kaksikymmentäkaksi

23

kaksikymmentäkolme

24

kaksikymmentäneljä

25

kaksikymmentäviisi

26

kaksikymmentäkuusi

27

kaksikymmentäseitsemän

28

kaksikymmentäkahdeksan

29

kaksikymmentäyhdeksän

30

kolmekymmentä

40

neljäkymmentä

50

viisikymmentä

60

kuusikymmentä

70

seitsemänkymmentä

80

kahdeksankymmentä

90

yhdeksänkymmentä

100

sata

101

satayksi

1000

tuhat

1001

tuhatyksi

The cardinal numbers are declined in cases. Every part is declined in numbers that consist of several parts except for the -toista element, which is the partitive case of the word toinen 'the second' and occurs in the numbers from 11 to 19.

2 Ordinal Numbers

The ordinal numbers are formed by adding -s to the genitive stem of cardinal numbers. There are exceptions for the numbers 1st, 2nd, and 3rd and they must be learnt separately. An ordinal number includes a period. In Numbers

In Letters

0.

nollas

1.

ensimmäinen

2.

toinen

3.

kolmas

4.

neljäs

5.

viides

6.

kuudes

7.

seitsemäs

8.

kahdeksas

9.

yhdeksäs

10.

kymmenes

11.

yhdestoista

12.

kahdestoista

13.

kolmastoista

14.

neljästoista

15.

viidestoista

16.

kuudestoista

17.

seitsemästoista

18.

kahdeksastoista

19.

yhdeksästoista

20.

kahdeskymmenes

21.

kahdeskymmenesensimmäinen

22.

kahdeskymmenestoinen

23.

kahdeskymmeneskolmas

24.

kahdeskymmenesneljäs

25.

kahdeskymmenesviides

26.

kahdeskymmeneskuudes

27.

kahdeskymmenesseitsemäs

28.

kahdeskymmeneskahdeksas

29.

kahdeskymmenesyhdeksäs

30.

kolmaskymmenes

40.

neljäskymmenes

50.

viideskymmenes

60.

kuudeskymmenes

70.

seitsemäskymmenes

80.

kahdeksaskymmenes

90.

yhdeksäskymmenes

100.

sadas

101.

sadasensimmäinen

1000.

tuhannes

1001.

tuhannesensimmäinen

The ordinal numbers are declined in cases in the same way as the cardinal numbers.

Moods

1 Introduction A mood expresses the manner in which the action or state conveyed by the predicate is conceived by the speaker. There are four moods in the Finnish language: indicative, imperative, conditional, and potentional. They differ from each other by a mood marker which is located before the personal suffix and after the possible passive marker. The following table shows the structure of a finite form of a verb. A finite form consists of at least the stem and a personal suffix. stem + passive marker + tense or mood marker + personal suffix + clitic particles

2 Indicative The indicative expresses that the action is real. It has no mood marker, but it conjugates in all the tenses unlike the other moods.

2.1

Present Active

The present active indicative is formed by adding a personal suffix to the present stem. present stem + personal suffix Personal suffixes of the present active indicative are shown in the following table. The third person singular has no personal suffix, if the present stem ends in a diphthong; otherwise the personal suffix is a vowel lengthening. The third person plural has two variants for the personal suffix due to the vowel harmony.

Person

Singular

Plural

1st person

-n

-mme

2nd person

-t

-tte

3rd person

-, vowel lengthening -vat/-vät

2.2

Present Passive

The present passive indicative is formed by adding the passive marker -ta/täand the personal suffix -Vn (vowel lengthening + n) to the passive stem.

passive stem + passive marker + personal suffix Different combinations of markers and suffixes that are added to the passive stem are shown in the following table. -ta/-tä -ta/-tä -ta/-tä -ta/-tä -ta/-tä

2.3

+ + + + +

Vn Vn Vn Vn Vn

-> -> -> -> ->

-taan/-tään -daan/-dään -laan/-lään -naan/-nään -raan/-rään

Past Active

The past active indicative is formed by adding the tense marker and the personal suffix to the present stem. The past tense marker is -i and it merges with the present stem. present stem + tense marker + personal suffix or past stem + personal suffix Personal suffixes of the past active indicative are shown in the following table. The third person singular has not personal suffix and the third person plural has two variants for the personal suffix due to the vowel harmony.

Person

Singular

Plural

1st person

-i + n

-i + mme

2nd person

-i + t

-i + tte

3rd person

-i

-i + vat/vät

2.4

Past Passive

The past passive indicative is formed by adding the passive marker, the tense marker, and the personal suffix to the passive stem. passive stem + passive marker + tense marker + personal suffix Different combinations of markers and suffixes that are added to the passive stem are shown in the following table. -ta/-tä + i + Vn -> -tiin -tta/-ttä + i + Vn -> -ttiin

3 Imperative The imperative expresses that the action is forced or desired. Its marker is arelic consonant, -ko/-kö, or -kaa/-kää. There is no form for the first person singular. The imperative conjugates in the present and perfect tense.

3.1

Present Active

The second person singular is formed by adding the mood marker to the present stem. This form has no personal suffix. present stem + mood marker The third person singular and all the plural forms are formed by adding the mood marker and the personal suffix to the infinitive stem. infinitive stem + mood marker + personal suffix Mood markers and personal suffixes that are used when forming the imperative are shown in the following table.

Person

Singular

1st person

Plural

-kaa + mme

2nd person

relic consonant

3rd person

-ko + on / -kö + ön -ko + ot / -kö + öt

3.2

-kaa + (tte)

Present Passive

The present passive imperative is formed by adding the passive marker -ta/-täor -tta/-ttä, the mood marker -ko/-kö, and the personal suffix -Vn (vowel lengthening + n) to the passive stem. passive stem + passive marker + mood marker + personal suffix Different combinations of markers and suffixes that are added to the passive

stem are shown in the following table. -ta/-tä + ko/kö + Vn -> -takoon/-täköön -tta/-ttä + ko/kö + Vn -> -ttakoon/-ttäköön

4 Conditional The conditional expresses that the action is conditional. Its marker is -isi and it conjugates in the present and perfect tense.

4.1

Present Active

The present active conditional is formed by adding a personal suffix to the conditional stem. conditional stem + personal suffix The mood marker and personal suffixes that are used when forming the conditional are shown in the following table. The third person singular has no personal suffix.

Person

Singular

Plural

1st person

-isi + n

-isi + mme

2nd person

-isi + t

-isi + tte

3rd person

-isi

-isi + vat/vät

4.2

Present Passive

The present passive conditional is formed by adding the passive marker -ta/-täor -tta/-ttä, the mood marker -isi, and the personal suffix -Vn (vowel lengthening + n) to the passive stem. passive stem + passive marker + mood marker + personal suffix

Different combinations of markers and suffixes that are added to the passive stem are shown in the following table. -ta/-tä + isi + Vn -> -taisiin/-täisiin -tta/-ttä + isi + Vn -> -ttaisiin/-ttäisiin

5 Potential The potential expresses that the action is possible. Its marker is -ne and it conjugates in the present and perfect tense.

5.1

Present Active

The present active potential is formed by adding the mood marker and a personal suffix to the participle stem. participle stem + mood marker + personal suffix The mood marker and personal suffixes that are used when forming the potential are shown in the following table.

Person

Singular

Plural

1st person

-ne + n

-ne + mme

2nd person

-ne + t

-ne + tte

3rd person

-ne + e

-ne + vat/vät

5.2

Present Passive

The present passive potential is formed by adding the passive marker -ta/-täor -tta/-ttä, the mood marker -ne, and personal suffix -Vn (vowel lengthening + n)

to the passive stem. passive stem + passive marker + mood marker + personal suffix Different combinations of markers and suffixes that are added to the passive stem are shown in the following table. -ta/-tä + ne + Vn -> -taneen/-täneen -tta/-ttä + ne + Vn -> -ttaneen/-ttäneen

Alistuskonjunktiot Subordinating conjunctions Unterordnende Konjunktionen että jotta koska kun jos vaikka kuin kunnes jahka ellen jollen joskin kuten tokko niin että ennen kuin niin kuin ikään kuin

jos kohta

Rinnastuskonjunktiot Coordinating conjunctions Nebenordnende Konjunktionen ja ynnä sekä sekä - että -kä eli tai tahi taikka joko - tai vai mutta vaan sillä paitsi näet nimittäin

Adverb stems alayläesitakalähikaukoulkosisäkeskivieri etäohimukaympärivastapoikitykö-

under upper front behind near far out in middle side far at, over with around against away by

luolikiseka-

by near among

Cases

1 Introduction A case is an inflection of nouns, adjectives, pronouns, numerals, infinitives, participles, and adverbs. Many cases are similar in function to English prepositions. In Finnish, there are 15 cases which can be divided into five groups, each of which consists of three cases. Basic cases include nominative, genitive, and accusative, general local cases include partitive, essive, and translative, interior local cases include inessive, elative, and illative, exterior local cases include adessive, ablative, and allative, and means cases include abessive, comitative, and instructive. In addition, there are also a lot of adverbial cases whose usage is limited to a small number of words. Therefore, these forms are usually regarded as adverbs.

2 Inflectional Stems

Case suffixes cannot usually be added directly to the nominative stem, but a word stem is affected by several changes, the most important of which are consonant gradation and vowel change i ~ e. With the aid of inflectional stems, the formation of cases is much easier, because cases requiring the same inflectional stem can be learnt simultaneously, and the only varying thing is just the case ending.

3 Formation of Cases A good knowledge of inflectional stems is a major requirement for forming Finnish cases.

Nominative Stem 1 Introduction The nominative stem is the basic form of Finnish nominals, infinitives and participles.

2 Formation The nominative stem is easy to form - it is the nominative itself.

3 Usage The nominative stem is used to form the nominative singular, the short form of the accusative singular, and sometimes the genitive plural as well. It is also used to form other inflectional stems. The following example shows, how case endings are attached to the

nominative stem. Case Nominative sg Accusative sg (short) Genitive pl

Word jalka jalka jalkain

Translation the foot the foot of the feet

Genitive Stem

1 Introduction The genitive stem is a very important stem of Finnish nominals. Most cases are formed by adding endings directly to it. This applies to the singular form of the genitive, accusative (long form), translative, inessive, elative, adessive, ablative, allative, abessive, and instructive, and the plural form of the nominative and accusative. A good knowledge of consonant gradation andvowel change i ~ e is of great use.

2 Formation The formation of the genitive stem is very complicated. The following rules show, how the genitive stem is formed from the nominative stem. In the examples, the first form is the nominative stem or the nominative singular and

the second one is the genitive stem with the genitive ending -n.

2.1 Words that end in a vowel a) Words that do not undergo vowel change i ~ e This group includes all the words that end in a, o, u, y, ä, and ö. This group also includes a small number words that end in e. Most words that end in eactually end in a relic consonant, and therefore they decline like words ending in a normal consonant (see chapter 2.2 a below). The only group of words that requires memorizing consists of words ending in i, because they can undergo the vowel change i ~ e. This group includes the words that do not undergo the change. The genitive stem of these words is similar to the nominative stem, except for that the consonant gradation is applied to appropriate words.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

koira

koira-n

dog

nalle

nalle-n

teddy bear

kiivi

kiivi-n

kiwi fruit

talo

talo-n

house

koulu

koulu-n

school

syy

syy-n

reason

kylä

kylä-n

village

yö

yö-n

night

If a word contains a consonant or a consonant cluster, which is affected by the consonant gradation, the genitive stem takes the weak grade.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

silta

silla-n

bridge

vihko

viho-n

notebook

b) Words that undergo vowel change i ~ e If a word undergoes the vowel change i ~ e, the genitive stem is formed by replacing the i by e.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

kieli

kiele-n

language

A word may undergo both the vowel change i ~ e and the consonant gradation. In this case, the genitive stem takes the weak grade as well.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

koipi

koive-n

leg

särki

särje-n

roach

Note especially words that end in -si and undergo the vowel change i ~ e. Because of a ancient change si ~ ti, these words still decline as if there were at instead of the s. As t is a phoneme that is affected by the consonant gradation, the genitive stem, in addition, takes the weak grade. The following table shows all the possible inflectional types.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

vesi

vede-n

water

kansi

kanne-n

lid

jälsi

jälle-n

cambium

virsi

virre-n

hymn

Exceptions! The genitive stem of jousi, kusi, and kuusi is formed just by replacing i by e.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

jousi

jouse-n

bow

kusi

kuse-n

piss

kuusi

kuuse-n

spruce

Exception! The word veli requires an additional j in the genitive stem.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

veli

velje-n

brother

Note! The genitive stem of yksi and kaksi is formed by replacing ksi by hde.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

yksi

yhde-n

one

kaksi

kahde-n

two

c) Comparative forms The genitive stem of comparative forms is formed by replacing the comparative ending -mpi by mma. The change from mp to mm is caused by theconsonant gradation.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

suurempi

suuremma-n

bigger

isompi

isomma-n

bigger

kauniimpi

kauniimma-n

nicer

d) New loan words The consonant gradation is not applied to some new loan words.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

varis

varikse-n

crow

hius

hiukse-n

hair

tulos

tulokse-n

result

kynnys

kynnykse-n

treshold

väärennös

väärennökse-n forgery

Type II If a word has been derived from a noun or an adjective, and it ends in -us/ys, in front of which there is a vowel, the genitive stem is formed by replacing the s by de.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

osuus

osuude-n

share, part

kauneus

kauneude-n

beauty

rakkaus

rakkaude-n

love

teollisuus

teollisuude-n

industry

hyvyys

hyvyyde-n

goodness

Type III If a word is a number or a pronoun, which refers to a number, the genitive stem is formed by replacing the s by nne.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

kolmas

kolmanne-n

the third the fourth

neljäs

neljänne-n

tuhannes

tuhannenne-n the thousandth

mones

monenne-n

Type IV The genitive stem of other words is formed by omitting the s and doubling the last vowel. These words often end in -as (about 8 exceptions), -äs (about 2 exceptions), -es (about 11 exceptions), or -is (about 9 exceptions). Only one word of this type ends in -os. The consonant gradation is applied to appropriate words, and then the genitive stem takes the strong grade. This type especially includes words that end in -ias (one exception), -kas, -las (two exceptions), -mas, -nas (three exceptions), -oas, -ras, -sas, -tas, -uas, and -vas. See the list of words that belong to this type. Anyway, the list does not include words ending in -ias and -kas.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

karvas

karvaa-n

bitter

tehdas

tehtaa-n

factory

varvas

varpaa-n

toe

kiuas

kiukaa-n

sauna heater

kirves

kirvee-n

ax

tiivis

tiivii-n

compact

uros

uroo-n

male

räystäs

räystää-n

eaves

Exceptions! The word paras is irregular and it requires an additional h in the genitive stem. The word mies also declines irregularly, because the s changes to he in the genitive stem.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

paras

parhaa-n

the best

mies

miehe-n

man

c) Words that end in n If a word ends in n, the genitive stem is formed by replacing the n by me.

Theconsonant gradation is applied to appropriate words, and then the genitive stem takes the strong grade. Words that end in -en, -nen, and -ton/-tön, and superlative forms ending in -in, decline in a different way and they will be discussed separately below.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

avain

avaime-n

key

sydän

sydäme-n

heart

sadin

satime-n

trap

hapan

happame-n

sour

otin

ottime-n

handle

Exceptions! There are two words, in which the n is replaced by ma/mä. The word hapancan also be declined regularly (see above).

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

hapan

happama-n

sour

lämmin

lämpimä-n

warm

If a word ends in -en, the genitive stem is formed by adding e to the nominative stem. The consonant gradation is applied to appropriate words, and then the genitive stem takes the strong grade.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

ien

ikene-n

gum

joutsen

joutsene-n

swan

jäsen

jäsene-n

member, part

höyhen

höyhene-n

feather

hiven

hivene-n

small amount

tyven

tyvene-n

calm

If a word ends in -nen, the genitive stem is formed by replacing the nen byse.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

hevonen

hevose-n

horse

ihminen

ihmise-n

person

puinen

puise-n

wooden

If a word ends in -ton/-tön, the genitive stem is formed by replacing theton/tön by ttoma/ttömä. Note that the change from t to tt is caused by the consonant gradation.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

mahdoton

mahdottoma-nimpossible

työtön

työttömä-n

unemployed

If a word is a superlative form and thus ends in -in, the genitive stem is formed by replacing the n by mma/mmä. This group also includes the word vasen'left'.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

suurin

suurimma-n

the biggest

kaunein

kauneimma-n the nicest

märin

märimmä-n

the wettest

köyhin

köyhimmä-n

the poorest

vasen

vasemma-n

left

The genitive stem of the numbers from 7 to 10 and from 17 to 19 is formed by omitting the n.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

seitsemän

seitsemä-n

seven

kahdeksan

kahdeksa-n

eight

yhdeksän

yhdeksä-n

nine

kymmenen

kymmenen-n

ten

seitsemäntoista seitsemä-ntoista

seventeen

kahdeksantoistakahdeksa-ntoista

eighteen

yhdeksäntoista yhdeksä-ntoista

nineteen

d) Words that end in l If a word ends in l, the genitive stem is formed by adding e to the nominative stem. The consonant gradation is applied to appropriate words, and then the genitive stem takes the strong grade. This group includes about ten words.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

askel

askele-n

step

kannel

kantele-n

kantele

kyynel

kyynele-n

tear

sävel

sävele-n

note, melody

sammal

sammale-n

moss

ommel

ompele-n

stitch

taival

taipale-n

trip

nivel

nivele-n

joint

vemmel

vempele-n

petkel

petkele-n

chopper

e) Words that end in r If a word ends in r, the genitive stem is formed by adding e to the nominative stem. The consonant gradation is applied to appropriate words, and then the genitive stem takes the strong grade.

Nominative Genitive

Translation

tatar

tattare-n

knotweed (Polygonum)

tytär

tyttäre-n

daughter

sisar

sisare-n

sister

f) Words that end in t If a word ends in -at/-ät, the genitive stem is formed by removing the t and doubling the last vowel. This group includes only one word.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

kevät

kevää-n

spring

If a word is a number, the genitive stem is formed by replacing the t by nne. This group includes only one word.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

tuhat

tuhanne-n

thousand

If a word ends in -ut/-yt, the genitive stem is formed by replacing the t by e, except for participles. This group includes about eleven words.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

ohut

ohue-n

thin

olut

olue-n

beer

lyhyt

lyhye-n

short

neitsyt

neitsye-n

virgin

kätkyt

kätkye-n

airut

airue-n

harbinger

kevyt

kevye-n

light

ehyt

ehye-n

whole

tiehyt

tiehye-n

duct

pehmyt

pehmye-n

soft

If a word is the active voice of a past participle and thus ends in -ut/-yt, the genitive stem is formed by replacing the ut/yt by ee.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

juossut

juossee-n

run

laulanut

laulanee-n

sung

syönyt

syönee-n

eaten

vienyt

vienee-n

taken

Note! The word ainut has no genitive stem of its own, but instead you use that of the word ainoa 'only'.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

ainut

ainoa-n

only

g) Loan words The genitive stem of new loan words, which end in a consonant, is formed simply by adding a vowel i to the nominative stem. Foreign proper nouns belong to this group as well. This rule also applies to words that end in the consonants l, n, r, s, and t.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

rock

rocki-n

rock music

radar

radari-n

radar

Internet

Interneti-n

Internet

Linux

Linuxi-n

Linux

Windows

Windowsi-n

Windows

New York

New Yorki-n

New York

3 Usage The genitive stem is used to form the singular form of the genitive, accusative (long form), translative, inessive, elative, adessive, ablative, allative, abessive, and instructive, and also the plural form of the nominative and accusative. It is also used to form the partitive, essive and plural stem. The following example shows, how case endings are attached to the genitive stem.

Case

Word

Translation

Nominative sg

jalka

the foot

Accusative sg (long)

jalan

the foot

Genitive sg

jalan

of the foot

Translative sg

jalaksi

becoming the foot

Inessive sg

jalassa

in the foot

Elative sg

jalasta

out of the foot

Adessive sg

jalalla

on the foot

Ablative sg

jalalta

from the foot

Allative sg

jalalle

onto the foot

Abessive sg

jalatta

without the foot

Instructive sg

jalan

by foot

Nominative pl

jalat

the feet

Accusative pl

jalat

the feet

Fourth Inflection Type of Words Ending in -s This list includes all the words that end in -s and decline according to the fourth inflection type. Words ending in -ias and -kas are not included, because there are a lot of such words and all of them decline similarly. (Words that end in -äs will be added later.)

Nominative

Genitive

Partitive

English

ahdas allas ahnas altis armas aulis autuas hammas harras hauras hidas hirvas ies kangas kallis kalvas karsas karvas katras

ahtaan altaan ahnaan alttiin armaan auliin autuaan hampaan hartaan hauraan hitaan hirvaan ikeen kankaan kalliin kalvaan karsaan karvaan katraan

ahdasta allasta ahnasta altista armasta aulista autuasta hammasta harrasta haurasta hidasta hirvasta iestä kangasta kallista kalvasta karsasta karvasta katrasta

narrow, tight basin greedy exposed dear helpful blessed tooth devout fragile slow yoke some expensive pale unwilling bitter herd

kaunis kauris keidas kernas kinnas kiivas kirves kitsas kiuas koiras kokelas kuhilas kuningas kunnas kuulas lammas lipas lounas lunnas mallas marras mies naaras nauris opas oas oinas olas oppilas oras parras paljas paras patsas pensas piiras porras porsas potilas pudas puhdas ratas raavas rahvas raitis raihnas rastas ratsas rengas reipas rietas ruhtinas ruis runsas ruumis saapas

kauniin kauriin keitaan kernaan kintaan kiivaan kirveen kitsaan kiukaan koiraan kokelaan kuhilaan kuninkaan kunnaan kuulaan lampaan lippaan lounaan lunnaan maltaan martaan miehen naaraan nauriin oppaan okaan oinaan olaan oppilaan oraan partaan paljaan parhaan patsaan pensaan piiraan portaan porsaan potilaan putaan puhtaan rattaan raavaan rahvaan raittiin raihnaan rastaan ratsaan renkaan reippaan riettaan ruhtinaan rukiin runsaan ruumiin saappaan

kaunista kaurista keidasta kernasta kinnasta kiivasta kirvestä kitsasta kiuasta koirasta kokelasta kuhilasta kuningasta kunnasta kuulasta lammasta lipasta lounasta lunnasta mallasta marrasta miestä naarasta naurista opasta oasta oinasta olasta oppilasta orasta parrasta paljasta parasta patsasta pensasta piirasta porrasta porsasta potilasta pudasta puhdasta ratasta raavasta rahvasta raitista raihnasta rastasta ratsasta rengasta reipasta rietasta ruhtinasta ruista runsasta ruumista saapasta

beautiful mountain goat oasis eager mitten intense ax stingy sauna heater male candidate shock, stook king clear sheep box lunch; southwest ransom malt dead man female turnip guide wether pupil new crop edge bare the best statue bush step pig patient clean cogwheel big people fresh decrepit ring, tire snappy indecent prince rye rich body boot

saalis sairas sees sotilas tahdas taivas tehdas teuras tiivis toipilas tupas tuores turilas tursas tyyris uros uuras valpas varas varras varvas valas valmis vauras vehmas vilpas vieras viisas vitsas vuolas äes

saaliin sairaan sekeen sotilaan tahtaan taivaan tehtaan teuraan tiiviin toipilaan tuppaan tuoreen turilaan tursaan tyyriin uroon uuraan valppaan varkaan vartaan varpaan valaan valmiin vauraan vehmaan vilppaan vieraan viisaan vitsaan vuolaan äkeen

saalista sairasta seestä sotilasta tahdasta taivasta tehdasta teurasta tiivistä toipilasta tupasta tuoresta turilasta tursasta tyyristä urosta uurasta valpasta varasta varrasta varvasta valasta valmista vaurasta vehmasta vilpasta vierasta viisasta vitsasta vuolasta äestä

prey sick clear soldier paste sky factory slaughtered (animal) tight convalescent fresh expensive male busy attentive thief spit toe whale ready rich lush guest wise twig fast-flowing harrow

Partitive Stem

1 Introduction The partitive stem is an important stem of nominals, infinitives and participles along with the genitive stem. The main difference between these stems lies inconsonant gradation. The partitive stem takes the strong grade, when the genitive stem takes the weak one, and vice versa. The partitive stem is used to form the partitive singular and the genitive plural. Anyway, the genitive plural cannot be formed from the partitive stem of any word, but there are certain restrictions. The partitive stem is also used to form the essive stem. A good knowledge of the consonant gradation and also vowel change i ~ e is of great use.

2 Formation The formation of the partitive stem is very complicated. The following rules show, how the partitive stem is formed from the nominative and sometimes also the genitive stem. In the examples, the partitive ending -a/-ä/-ta/-tä has been separated from the partitive stem by a hyphen.

2.1

Words that end in a vowel

a) Words that do not undergo vowel change i ~ e If a word ends in a vowel and it does not undergo the vowel change i ~ e, the partitive stem is similar to the nominative stem. This rule also applies to words which are affected by the consonant gradation.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

koira

koira-a

dog

nalle

nalle-a

teddy bear

kiivi

kiivi-ä

kiwi fruit

talo

talo-a

house

koulu

koulu-a

school

syy

syy-tä

reason

kylä

kylä-ä

village

yö

yö-tä

night

silta

silta-a

bridge

vihko

vihko-a

notebook

b) Words that undergo vowel change i ~ e If a word undergoes the vowel change i ~ e, there are two ways of forming the partitive stem. If a word ends in -hi, -li, -ni, or -ri, in front of which there is a vowel, the partitive stem is formed by removing the i.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

jouhi

jouh-ta

horsehair

kieli

kiel-tä

language

pieni

pien-tä

small

saari

saar-ta

island

There are three exceptions to the rule. Note that the word veli also requires an additional j.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

Louhi

Louhe-a

Louhi

sini

sine-ä

the blue

veli

velje-ä

brother

Note also that the following words require a back-vowel partitive ending that is against vowel harmony rules.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

meri

mer-ta

sea

veri

ver-ta

blood

If a word ends in -si, in front of which there is a vowel, or in -lsi, -nsi, or -rsi, the partitive stem is formed by replacing the si by t.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

vesi

vet-tä

water

kuusi

kuut-ta

six

kansi

kant-ta

lid

jälsi

jält-tä

virsi

virt-tä

hymn

Exceptions! The partitive stem of jousi, kusi, and kuusi is formed by omitting the i.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

jousi

jous-ta

bow

kusi

kus-ta

piss

kuusi

kuus-ta

spruce

If a word ends in -ksi, the partitive stem is formed either by replacing it by hor s, or by omitting the i. This group includes only four words.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

yksi

yh-tä

one

kaksi

kah-ta

two

uksi

us-ta

door

suksi

sukse-a or sus-ta (old form)

ski

If a word ends in -psi or -tsi, the partitive stem is formed by replacing it by s. This group includes only four words.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

hapsi

has-ta

hair

lapsi

las-ta

child

peitsi

peis-tä

lance

veitsi

veis-tä (veitse- knife ä)

If a word ends in -mi, in front of which there is a vowel, the partitive stem is formed either by replacing the i by e, or the mi by n.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

lumi

lun-ta

snow

nimi

nime-ä

name

If a word does not belong to any of the groups mentioned above, the partitive stem is formed by replacing i by e.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

tammi

tamme-a

oak

saarni

saarne-a

ash

tähti

tähte-ä

star

kurki

kurke-a

crane

c) Comparative forms The partitive stem of comparative forms is formed by replacing the comparative ending -mpi by mpa.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

suurempi

suurempa-a

bigger

isompi

isompa-a

bigger

kauniimpi

kauniimpa-a

nicer

2.2 Words that end in a consonant There are only five consonants, l, n, r, s, and t, which a Finnish word can end in. Loan words can end in any consonant.

a) Words that end in a relic consonant If a word ends in a relic consonant, the partitive stem is formed by adding t to the nominative stem. Actually, this t is the relic consonant which becomes visible now.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

vene

venet-tä

boat

koe

koet-ta

test

laite

laitet-ta

device

b) Words that end in s If a word ends in s, the partitive stem is formed with the aid of the genitive stem. If the genitive stem ends in -kse, -he, or a long vowel, the partitive stem is similar to the nominative stem.

Nominative

Genitive

Partitive

Translation

varis

varikse-n

varis-ta

crow

hius

hiukse-n

hius-ta

hair

tulos

tulokse-n

tulos-ta

result

kynnys

kynnykse-n

kynnys-tä

treshold

väärennös

väärennökse-n väärennös-tä

forgery

karvas

karvaa-n

karvas-ta

bitter

tehdas

tehtaa-n

tehdas-ta

factory

varvas

varpaa-n

varvas-ta

toe

kiuas

kiukaa-n

kiuas-ta

sauna heater

kirves

kirvee-n

kirves-tä

ax

tiivis

tiivii-n

tiivis-tä

compact

uros

uroo-n

uros-ta

male

räystäs

räystää-n

räystäs-tä

eaves

paras

parhaa-n

paras-ta

the best

mies

miehe-n

mies-tä

man

If the genitive stem ends in -de or -nne, the partitive stem is formed from the nominative stem by replacing the s by t.

Nominative

Genitive

Partitive

Translation

osuus

osuude-n

osuut-ta

share, part

kauneus

kauneude-n

kauneut-ta

beauty

rakkaus

rakkaude-n

rakkaut-ta

love

teollisuus

teollisuude-n

teollisuut-ta

industry

hyvyys

hyvyyde-n

hyvyyt-tä

goodness

kolmas

kolmanne-n

kolmat-ta

the third

neljäs

neljänne-n

neljät-tä

the fourth

tuhannes

tuhannenne-n tuhannet-ta

mones

monenne-n

the thousandth

monet-ta

c) Words that end in n If a word ends in -nen, the partitive stem is formed by replacing the nen by s.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

hevonen

hevos-ta

horse

ihminen

ihmis-tä

person

puinen

puis-ta

wooden

There are two ways of forming the partitive stem of superlative forms. This group also includes the word vasen 'left'. The easiest way of forming the partitive stem is to use the stem similar to the nominative stem.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

suurin

suurin-ta

the biggest

isoin

isoin-ta

the biggest

vasen

vasen-ta

left

The partitive stem can also be formed by replacing the superlative ending -nby mpa.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

suurin

suurimpa-a

the biggest

isoin

isoimpa-a

the biggest

vasen

vasempa-a

left

The partitive stem of other words, which end in -n, is similar to the nominative stem.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

avain

avain-ta

key

sydän

sydän-tä

heart

sadin

sadin-ta

trap

hapan

hapan-ta

sour

otin

otin-ta

handle

lämmin

lämmin-tä

warm

ien

ien-tä

gum

joutsen

joutsen-ta

swan

mahdoton

mahdoton-ta

impossible

työtön

työtön-tä

unemployed

The partitive stem of the numbers 7 - 10 and 17 - 19 is formed by omitting then.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

seitsemän

seitsemä-ä

seven

kahdeksan

kahdeksa-a

eight

yhdeksän

yhdeksä-ä

nine

kymmenen

kymmenen-tä

ten

seitsemäntoista seitsemä-ätoista

seventeen

kahdeksantoistakahdeksa-atoista

eighteen

yhdeksäntoista yhdeksä-ätoista

nineteen

d) Words that end in l If a word ends in l, the partitive stem is similar to the nominative stem. This group includes about ten words.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

askel

askel-ta

step

kannel

kannel-ta

kantele

kyynel

kyynel-tä

tear

sävel

sävel-tä

note, melody

sammal

sammal-ta

moss

ommel

ommel-ta

stitch

taival

taival-ta

trip

nivel

nivel-tä

joint

vemmel

vemmel-tä

petkel

petkel-tä

sprudder, stamper

e) Words that end in r If a word ends in r, the partitive stem is similar to the nominative stem.

Nominative Partitive

Translation

tatar

tatar-ta

knotweed (Polygonum)

tytär

tytär-tä

daughter

sisar

sisar-ta

sister

f) Words that end in t If a word ends in t, the partitive stem is similar to the nominative stem. This group also includes past participle active tenses.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

kevät

kevät-tä

spring

tuhat

tuhat-ta

thousand

ohut

ohut-ta

thin

olut

olut-ta

beer

lyhyt

lyhyt-tä

short

neitsyt

neitsyt-tä

virgin

kätkyt

kätkyt-tä

cradle

airut

airut-ta

harbinger

kevyt

kevyt-tä

light

ehyt

ehyt-tä

whole

tiehyt

tiehyt-tä

duct

pehmyt

pehmyt-tä

soft

ainut

ainut-ta

only

juossut

juossut-ta

run

laulanut

laulanut-ta

sung

syönyt

syönyt-tä

eaten

vienyt

vienyt-tä

taken

g) Loan words The partitive stem of new loan words, which end in a consonant, is formed simply by adding a vowel i to the nominative stem. Foreign proper nouns belong to this group as well. This rule also applies to words that end in the consonants l, n, r, s, and t.

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

rock

rocki-a

rock music

radar

radari-a

radar

Internet

Interneti-ä

Internet

Linux

Linuxi-a

Linux

Windows

Windowsi-a

Windows

New York

New Yorki-a

New York

3 Usage The partitive stem is used to form the partitive singular and sometimes the genitive plural as well. The partitive ending -a/-ä is added to a stem which ends in a single vowel, and the ending -ta/-tä to a stem which ends in a long vowel, a diphthong, or a consonant. The genitive plural ending -ten can be added only to a word whose partitive stem ends in a consonant, excluding some exceptions. (For further information, see the page on forming the genitive plural.) The following example shows, how case endings are attached to the partitive stem.

Case

Word

Translation

Nominative sg kieli

language

Partitive sg

kieltä

language

Genitive pl

kielten

of the languages

Nominative sg jalka

foot

Partitive sg

jalkaa

foot

Essive Stem

1 Introduction The essive stem is a kind of a combination of the genitive and partitive stem. It always ends in a vowel and takes the strong grade. A good knowledge ofconsonant gradation and vowel change i ~ e is of great use.

2 Formation The essive stem is formed with the aid of the genitive and partitive stem. In the inflection examples below, the genitive, partitive, and essive endings have been separated from the stems by a hyphen.

2.1

Word ends in a vowel

a) Words that do not undergo vowel change i ~ e If a word ends in a vowel and it does not undergo the vowel change i ~ e, the essive stem is similar to the partitive and nominative stem. Thus, the stem always takes the strong grade.

Nominative

Partitive

Essive

Translation

koira

koira-a

koira-na

dog

nalle

nalle-a

nalle-na

teddy bear

kiivi

kiivi-ä

kiivi-nä

kiwi fruit

talo

talo-a

talo-na

house

koulu

koulu-a

koulu-na

school

syy

syy-tä

syy-nä

reason

kylä

kylä-ä

kylä-nä

village

yö

yö-tä

yö-nä

night

silta

silta-a

silta-na

bridge

vihko

vihko-a

vihko-na

notebook

b) Words that undergo vowel change i ~ e If the partitive stem ends in a vowel, the essive stem is similar to the partitive stem.

Nominative

Partitive

Essive

Translation

tammi

tamme-a

tamme-na

oak

saarni

saarne-a

saarne-na

ash

tähti

tähte-ä

tähte-nä

star

kurki

kurke-a

kurke-na

crane

If the partitive stem ends in a consonant, the essive stem is formed by addinge to the partitive stem.

Nominative

Partitive

Essive

Translation

jouhi

jouh-ta

jouhe-na

horsehair

kieli

kiel-tä

kiele-nä

language

pieni

pien-tä

piene-nä

small

saari

saar-ta

saare-na

island

meri

mer-ta

mere-nä

sea

veri

ver-ta

vere-nä

blood

kuusi

kuus-ta

kuuse-na

spruce

kuusi

kuut-ta

kuute-na

six

kansi

kant-ta

kante-na

lid

jälsi

jält-tä

jälte-nä

cambium

virsi

virt-tä

virte-nä

hymn

If a word ends in -mi, in front of which there is a vowel, the essive stem is similar to the genitive stem.

Nominative

Genitive

Essive

Translation

lumi

lume-n

lume-na

snow

nimi

nime-n

nime-nä

name

suomi

suome-n

suome-na

Finnish

If a word ends in -ksi, the essive stem is similar to the genitive stem, except for that the stem takes the strong grade. This group includes only four words.

Nominative

Genitive

Essive

Translation

yksi

yhde-n

yhte-nä

one

kaksi

kahde-n

kahte-na

two

uksi

ukse-n

ukse-na

door

suksi

sukse-n

sukse-na

ski

If a word ends in -psi or -tsi, the essive stem is similar to the genitive stem. This group includes only four words.

Nominative

Genitive

Essive

Translation

hapsi

hapse-n

hapse-na

hair

lapsi

lapse-n

lapse-na

child

peitsi

peitse-n

peitse-nä

lance

veitsi

veitse-n

veitse-nä

knife

2.2 Word ends in a consonant If a word ends in a consonant or a relic consonant, the essive stem is similar to the genitive stem, excluding some exceptions discussed later. Thus, the stem always takes the strong grade.

Nominative

Genitive

Essive

Translation

vene

venee-n

venee-nä

boat

karvas

karvaa-n

karvaa-na

bitter

avain

avaime-n

avaime-na

key

askel

askele-n

askele-na

step

tytär

tyttäre-n

tyttäre-nä

daughter

ohut

ohue-n

ohue-na

thin

juossut

juossee-n

juossee-na

run

laulanut

laulanee-n

laulanee-na

sung

syönyt

syönee-n

syönee-nä

eaten

vienyt

vienee-n

vienee-nä

taken

The essive stem of comparative forms is formed by replacing the mma of the genitive stem by mpa. Thus, the essive stem similar to the longer partitive stem. This group also includes the word vasen 'left'.

Nominative

Genitive

Essive

Translation

suurin

suurimma-n

suurimpa-na

the biggest

isoin

isoimma-n

isoimpa-na

the biggest

vasen

vasemma-n

vasempa-na

left

If the nominative stem ends in -s and the genitive stem ends in -de, the essive stem is formed from the nominative stem by replacing the s by te.

Nominative

Genitive

Essive

Translation

osuus

osuude-n

osuute-na

share, part

kauneus

kauneude-n

kauneute-na

beauty

rakkaus

rakkaude-n

rakkaute-na

love

teollisuus

teollisuude-n

teollisuute-na industry

hyvyys

hyvyyde-n

hyvyyte-nä

goodness

If the nominative stem ends in -s or -t and the genitive stem ends in -nne, the essive stem is formed from the nominative stem by replacing the s or t bynte.

Nominative

Genitive

Essive

Translation

kolmas

kolmanne-n

kolmante-na

the third

neljäs

neljänne-n

neljänte-nä

the fourth

tuhannes

tuhannenne-n tuhannente-na the thousandth

mones

monenne-n

monente-na

tuhat

tuhanne-n

tuhante-na

thousand

3 Usage The essive stem is used to form the essive sg and illative sg. It is also used to form the nominative sg, genitive sg, accusative sg, nominative pl, and accusative pl with a possessive suffix. The following example shows, how case endings are attached to the essive stem.

Case

Word

Translation

Nominative

kieli

language

Essive

kielenä

as the language

Illative

kieleen

into the language

In the following example, the possessive suffix -ni 'my' has been attached to the essive stem. Because a possessiv suffix can only be added after a vowel, the genitive and accusative singular ending -n, and the nominative and accusative plural ending -t are removed. Thus, all the forms look similar.

Case

Word

Translation

Nominative sg kieleni

my language

Accusative sg

kieleni

my language

Genitive sg

kieleni

of my language

Nominative pl kieleni

my languages

Accusative pl

my languages

kieleni

Plural Stem

1 Introduction The plural stem is used to form the plural of the translative, inessive, elative, adessive, ablative, allative, abessive, and instructive.

2 Formation The plural stem is formed with the aid of the genitive stem. The plural stem always includes a plural marker i. In the inflection examples below, the inessive endings have been separated from the stem by a hyphen. A good knowledge ofconsonant gradation and vowel change i ~ e is of great use.

2.1

Words that end in a vowel

a) Words that end in a single a If a word ends in a single a, there are two ways of forming the plural stem. If a word includes two syllables, and there is o or u in the first one, the plural stem is formed by replacing the a by the plural marker i.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

kova

kova-ssa

kovi-ssa

hard

muna

muna-ssa

muni-ssa

egg

loota

looda-ssa

loodi-ssa

box

luuta

luuda-ssa

luudi-ssa

broom

koira

koira-ssa

koiri-ssa

dog

kuiva

kuiva-ssa

kuivi-ssa

dry

routa

rouda-ssa

roudi-ssa

frost

juoma

juoma-ssa

juomi-ssa

drink

Otherwise, the last letter a of the genitive stem is replaced by o, and the plural marker i is attached after it.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

kana

kana-ssa

kanoi-ssa

hen

vaaka

vaa'a-ssa

vaaoi-ssa

scale

helma

helma-ssa

helmoi-ssa

hem

Veera

Veera-ssa

Veeroi-ssa

Veera

ripa

riva-ssa

rivoi-ssa

handle

hiiva

hiiva-ssa

hiivoi-ssa

yeast

laiva

laiva-ssa

laivoi-ssa

ship

kauppa

kaupa-ssa

kaupoi-ssa

shop

keila

keila-ssa

keiloi-ssa

bowling pin

leuka

leua-ssa

leuoi-ssa

chin

hiekka

hieka-ssa

hiekoi-ssa

sand

tiukka

tiuka-ssa

tiukoi-ssa

tight

The previous rule is also applied to all words with three or more syllables no matter which vowels there are in the preceding syllables.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

mansikka

mansika-ssa

mansikoi-ssa

strawberry

mustikka

mustika-ssa

mustikoi-ssa

blueberry

b) Words that end in a single ä If a word ends in a single ä, the plural stem is formed by replacing ä by the plural marker i.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

väärä

väärä-ssä

vääri-ssä

wrong

räkä

rää-ssä

räi-ssä

snot

c) Words that end in i If a word ends in a single i, and it does not undergo the vowel change i ~ e, the plural stem is formed by replacing the i by e and adding the plural marker iafter it.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

kiivi

kiivi-ssä

kiivei-ssä

kiwi fruit

kahvi

kahvi-ssa

kahvei-ssa

coffee

kaappi

kaapi-ssa

kaapei-ssa

cabinet

If a word undergoes the vowel change i ~ e, the plural stem is formed by replacing the last letter e of the genitive stem by the plural marker i, except for the words ending in -si.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

kieli

kiele-ssä

kieli-ssä

language

koipi

koive-ssa

koivi-ssa

leg

mäki

mäe-ssä

mäi-ssä

hill

If a word ends in -si and undergoes the vowel change i ~ e, the plural stem is similar to the nominative stem.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

vesi

vede-ssä

vesi-ssä

water

kansi

kanne-ssa

kansi-ssa

lid

jälsi

jälle-ssä

jälsi-ssä

cambium

virsi

virre-ssä

virsi-ssä

hymn

d) Words that end in a single e, o, u, y, or ö If a word ends in a single e, o, u, y, or ö, the plural stem is formed by adding the plural marker i to the genitive stem.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

nalle

nalle-ssa

nallei-ssa

teddy bear

aatto

aato-ssa

aatoi-ssa

eve

koulu

koulu-ssa

koului-ssa

school

pyry

pyry-ssä

pyryi-ssä

snowstorm

säilö

säilö-ssä

säilöi-ssä

storage

e) Words that end in a long vowel If a word ends in a long vowel, the plural stem is formed by replacing the last letter of the genitive stem by the plural marker i.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

maa

maa-ssa

mai-ssa

country

tee

tee-ssä

tei-ssä

tea

ehtoo

ehtoo-ssa

ehtoi-ssa

evening

puu

puu-ssa

pui-ssa

tree

pyy

pyy-ssä

pyi-ssä

hazelhen

pää

pää-ssä

päi-ssä

head

f) Words that end in a diphthong that ends in i

If a word ends in a diphthong that ends in i, the plural stem is formed by replacing the i by the plural marker i. Thus, the plural stem is similar to the nominative and genitive stem.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

hai

hai-ssa

hai-ssa

shark

koi

koi-ssa

koi-ssa

moth

f) Word ends in ie, uo, or yö If a one-syllable word ends in the diphthong ie, uo, or yö, the plural stem is formed by omitting the first component of the diphthong, and adding the plural marker i.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

tie

tie-ssä

tei-ssä

road

suo

suo-ssa

soi-ssa

marsh

työ

työ-ssä

töi-ssä

work

f) Words that end in another diphthong or a vowel cluster If a word ends in another diphthong or a vowel cluster that is not a diphthong, the plural stem is formed by adding the plural marker i to the genitive stem. This rule also applies to polysyllabic words that end in -ie, -uo, or -yö.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

neliö

neliö-ssä

neliöi-ssä

square

kolmio

kolmio-ssa

kolmioi-ssa

triangle

collie

2.2

collie-ssa

colliei-ssa

collie

Words that end in a consonant

If a word ends in a consonant or a relic consonant, the plural stem is formed from the genitive stem. In the inflection examples below, the inessive endings have been separated from the stem by a hyphen.

a) Genitive stem ends in -de If the genitive stem ends in -de, in front of which there is a vowel, the plural stem is formed by replacing the de by ksi. This group includes words whose nominative stem ends in -s.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

osuus

osuude-ssa

osuuksi-ssa

share, part

kauneus

kauneude-ssa kauneuksi-ssa beauty

rakkaus

rakkaude-ssa rakkauksi-ssa love

teollisuus

teollisuude-ssa teollisuuksissa

industry

hyvyys

hyvyyde-ssä

goodness

hyvyyksi-ssä

b) Genitive stem ends in -nne If the genitive stem ends in -nne, the plural stem is formed by replacing thenne by nsi. This group includes words whose nominative stem ends in -s or -t.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

kolmas

kolmanne-ssa kolmansi-ssa the third

neljäs

neljänne-ssä

neljänsi-ssä

the fourth

tuhannes

tuhannennessa

tuhannensissa

the thousandth

mones

monenne-ssa

monensi-ssa

tuhat

tuhanne-ssa

tuhansi-ssa

thousand

c) Other words The plural stem of other words, which end in a consonant or a relic consonant, is formed by replacing the last letter of the genitive stem by the plural markeri. This group does not include new loan words.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

vene

venee-ssä

venei-ssä

boat

laite

laittee-ssa

laittei-ssa

device

koe

kokee-ssa

kokei-ssa

test

avain

avaime-ssa

avaimi-ssa

key

sydän

sydäme-ssa

sydämi-ssä

heart

tytär

tyttäre-ssä

tyttäri-ssä

daughter

sisar

sisare-ssa

sisari-ssa

sister

karvas

karvaa-ssa

karvai-ssa

bitter

kaunis

kaunii-ssa

kaunii-ssa

nice

paras

parhaa-ssa

parhai-ssa

the best

kiuas

kiukaa-ssa

kiukai-ssa

sauna heater

varis

varikse-ssa

variksi-ssa

crow

ohut

ohue-ssa

ohui-ssa

thin

neitsyt

neitsye-ssä

neitsyi-ssä

virgin

sävel

sävele-ssä

säveli-ssä

note, melody

askel

askele-ssa

askeli-ssa

step

askel

askelee-ssa

askelei-ssa

step

d) New loan words The plural stem of new loan words that end in a consonant is formed by replacing the last i of the genitive stem by e and adding the plural marker iafter it.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

stadion

stadioni-ssa

stadionei-ssa

stadium

radar

radari-ssa

radarei-ssa

radar

3 Usage The plural stem is used to form the plural of the translative, inessive, elative, adessive, ablative, allative, abessive, and instructive. The following example shows, how case endings are attached to the plural stem.

Case

Word

Translation

Nominative

jalka

foot

Translative pl jaloiksi

becoming the feet

Inessive pl

jaloissa

in the feet

Elative pl

jaloista

out of the feet

Adessive pl

jaloilla

on the feet

Ablative pl

jaloilta

from the feet

Allative pl

jaloille

onto the feet

Abessive pl

jaloitta

without the feet

Instructive pl jaloin

with the feet

Strong-grade Plural Stem

1 Introduction The strong-grade plural stem is used to form the plural of cases that require a strong-grade stem. These cases include the genitive, partitive, essive, illative, and comitative. A good knowledge of consonant gradation and vowel change i ~ e is of great use.

2 Formation The easiest way of forming the strong-grade plural stem is to form it from the general plural stem, if a word ends in a vowel, and form if from the essive stem, if a word ends in a consonant.

2.1

Words that end in a vowel

If a word ends in a vowel, the strong-grade plural stem is similar to the general plural stem, except for that it always takes the strong grade such as

the nominative form. In the inflection examples below, the inessive and essive endings have been separated from the stem by a hyphen.

Nominative

Inessive pl

Essive pl

Translation

kova

kovi-ssa

kovi-na

hard

luuta

luudi-ssa

luuti-na

broom

ripa

rivoi-ssa

ripoi-na

handle

leuka

leuoi-ssa

leukoi-na

chin

jalka

jaloi-ssa

jalkoi-na

foot

mansikka

mansikoi-ssa

mansikkoi-na strawberry

väärä

vääri-ssä

vääri-nä

wrong

kahvi

kahvei-ssa

kahvei-na

coffee

mäki

mäi-ssä

mäki-nä

hill

vesi

vesi-ssä

vesi-nä

water

kyky

kyvyi-ssä

kykyi-nä

ability

nalle

nallei-ssa

nallei-na

teddy bear

aatto

aatoi-ssa

aattoi-na

eve

maa

mai-ssa

mai-na

country

ehtoo

ehtoi-ssa

ehtoi-na

evening

suo

soi-ssa

soi-na

marsh

neliö

neliöi-ssä

neliöi-nä

square

2.2

Words that end in a consonant

If a word ends in a consonant or a relic consonant, the strong-grade plural

stem is formed from the essive stem. In the inflection examples below, the essive endings have been separated from the stem by a hyphen.

a) Essive stem ends in -te If the essive stem ends in -te, in front of which there is a vowel, the stronggrade plural stem is formed by replacing the te by ksi. This group includes only words whose nominative stem ends in -s.

Nominative

Essive sg

Essive pl

Translation

osuus

osuute-na

osuuksi-na

share, part

kauneus

kauneute-na

kauneuksi-na beauty

rakkaus

rakkaute-na

rakkauksi-na

teollisuus

teollisuute-na teollisuuksi-na industry

hyvyys

hyvyyte-nä

hyvyyksi-nä

love

goodness

b) Essive stem ends in -nte If the essive stem ends in -nte, the strong-grade plural stem is formed by replacing the nte by nsi. This group includes only words whose nominative stem ends in -s or -t.

Nominative

Essive sg

Essive pl

Translation

kolmas

kolmante-na

kolmansi-na

the third

neljäs

neljänte-nä

neljänsi-nä

the fourth

tuhannes

tuhannente-na tuhannensi-na the thousandth

mones

monente-na

monensi-na

tuhat

tuhante-na

tuhansi-na

thousand

c) Other words The strong-grade plural stem of other words is formed by replacing the last

letter of the essive stem by the plural marker i. Thus, the strong-grade plural stem is similar to the general plural stem.

Nominative

Essive sg

Essive pl

Translation

vene

venee-nä

venei-nä

boat

laite

laittee-na

laittei-na

device

koe

kokee-na

kokei-na

test

avain

avaime-na

avaimi-na

key

sydän

sydäme-nä

sydämi-nä

heart

tytär

tyttäre-nä

tyttäri-nä

daughter

sisar

sisare-na

sisari-na

sister

karvas

karvaa-na

karvai-na

bitter

paras

parhaa-na

parhai-na

the best

kiuas

kiukaa-na

kiukai-na

sauna heater

varis

varikse-na

variksi-na

crow

ohut

ohue-na

ohui-na

thin

neitsyt

neitsye-nä

neitsyi-nä

virgin

d) New loan words The strong-grade plural stem of new loan words that end in a consonant is formed by replacing the last i of the essive stem by e and adding the plural marker i after it.

Nominative

Essive sg

Essive pl

Translation

stadion

stadioni-na

stadionei-na

stadium

radar

radari-na

radarei-na

radar

3 Usage The strong-grade plural stem is used to form the plural of the genitive, partitive, essive, illative, and comitative. The following example shows, how case endings are attached to the strong-grade plural stem. Note that the plural marker i changes to j between vowels.

Case

Word

Translation

Nominative

jalka

foot

Genitive pl

jalkojen

of the feet

Partitive pl

jalkoja

(some) feet

Essive pl

jalkoina

as the feet

Illative pl

jalkoihin

into the feet

Comitative pl

jalkoineni

with my feet

Nominative

1 Case Endings

The nominative singular has no case ending. The case ending of the nominative plural is -t.

2 Formation The nominative singular is the basic form of a word, and it is the form that you can expect to find in a dictionary. The nominative plural is formed by adding the nominative plural ending to the genitive stem. Nominative sg

Nominative pl

Translation

jalka

jalat

foot

varas

varkaat

thief

talo

talot

house

vene

veneet

boat

Accusative

1 Case Endings

The accusative singular has either no case ending or it is -n or -t. The case ending of the accusative plural is -t.

2 Formation The accusative singular has two different forms that are always similar to either the nominative, which has no case ending, or the genitive, whose case ending is -n which is added to the genitive stem. The accusative plural is formed by adding the accusative plural ending -t to the genitive stem. Thus, the accusative plural is similar to the nominative plural.Personal pronouns and the interrogative pronoun kuka 'who' have only one accusative form which is formed with the ending -t. Nominative

Accusative sg

Accusative pl

Translation

jalka

jalka / jalan

jalat

foot

varas

varas / varkaan

varkaat

thief

talo

talo / talon

talot

house

vene

vene / veneen

veneet

boat

Genitive

1 Case Endings

The genitive singular ending is -n and the genitive plural ending is -in, -en, -den, -ten, or -tten. The endings -den and -tten are always alternative to each other.

2 Formation of Genitive Singular The genitive singular is formed by adding the ending -n to the genitive stem. Examples are shown in the tables in the following chapter.

3 Formation of Genitive Plural The formation of the genitive plural is very complicated, because there are several endings and the case can be formed from three different stems: the nominative stem, partitive stem, and strong-grade plural stem.

3.1 Words that end in a vowel a) Words that end in a, e, o, u, y, ä, or ö If a word ends in a single a, e, o, u, y, ä, or ö, the genitive plural is formed by adding the ending -en to the strong-grade plural stem. The plural markeri becomes j between vowels. This group does not include words ending in a relic consonant (see chapter 3.2 a below). Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

koira

koiran

koirien

dog

kana

kanan

kanojen

hen

koulu

koulun

koulujen

school

omena

omenan

omenojen

apple

mansikka

mansikan

mansikkojen

strawberry

b) Words that end in i If a word ends in a single i, the genitive plural is formed by adding the ending -en to the nominative stem. Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

kahvi

kahvin

kahvien

coffee

enkeli

enkelin

enkelien

angel

västäräkki

västäräkin

västäräkkien

pied wagtail (Motacilla alba)

This group also includes comparative forms. Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

isompi

isomman

isompien

bigger

kumpi

kumman

kumpien

which one

This group also includes the words that undergo the vowel change i ~ e. Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

kieli

kielen

kielien

language

vesi

veden

vesien

water

kansi

kannen

kansien

lid

jälsi

jällen

jälsien

cambium

virsi

virren

virsien

hymn

meri

meren

merien

sea

yksi

yhden

yksien

one

veitsi

veitsen

veitsien

knife

Note! If the partitive stem ends in a consonant, the genitive plural can also be formed by adding the ending -ten to it. These words always undergo thevowel change i ~ e. This rule cannot be applied to words yksi 'one' andkaksi 'two'. Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

kieli

kielen

kielten

language

vesi

veden

vetten

water

kansi

kannen

kantten

lid

jälsi

jällen

jältten

cambium

virsi

virren

virtten

hymn

meri

meren

merten

sea

veitsi

veitsen

veisten

knife

Note! The genitive plural can also be formed by adding either the ending -den or -tten to the strong-grade plural stem, if the word has at least three syllables, the strong-grade plural stem ends in a diphthong, and the syllable preceding the case ending is stressed.

Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

enkeli

enkelin

enkeleiden enkeleitten

angel

c) Words that end in two vowels If a word ends in two or more vowels, the genitive stem is formed by adding either the ending -den or -tten to the strong-grade plural stem. Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

maa

maan

maiden maitten

country

yö

yön

öiden öitten

night

tie

tien

teiden teitten

way

neliö

neliön

neliöiden neliöitten

square

d) Special forms The genitive plural of some words ending in a consonant can also be formed with the aid of the ending -ten. These forms belong to elevated style. Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

enkeli

enkelin

enkelten

angel

jumala

jumalan

jumalten

god

sankari

sankarin

sankarten

hero

3.2 Words that end in a consonant a) Words that end in a relic consonant If a word ends in a relic consonant, the genitive plural is formed by adding either the ending -den or -tten to the strong-grade plural stem. Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

vene

veneen

veneiden veneitten

boat

koe

kokeen

kokeiden kokeitten

test

laite

laitteen

laitteiden laitteitten

device

b) Words that end in l, n, or r If a word ends in l, n, or r, the genitive plural is formed by adding either the ending -ten to the partitive stem or -en to the strong-grade plural stem. The ending -ten is added to the partitive stem. Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

avain

avaimen

avainten

key

ien

ikenen

ienten

gum

hevonen

hevosen

hevosten

horse

mahdoton

mahdottoman

mahdotonten

impossible

suurin

suurimman

suurinten

the biggest

seitsemän

seitsemän

seitsenten

seven

askel

askelen

askelten

step

tatar

tattaren

tatarten

knotweed (Polygonum)

The ending -en is added to the strong-grade plural stem. Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

avain

avaimen

avaimien

key

ien

ikenen

ikenien

gum

hevonen

hevosen

hevosien

horse

mahdoton

mahdottoman

mahdottomien

impossible

suurin

suurimman

suurimpien

the biggest

seitsemän

seitsemän

seitsemien

seven

askel

askelen

askelien

step

tatar

tattaren

tattarien

knotweed (Polygonum)

c) Words that end in s If a word ends in s, the genitive plural is formed with the aid of the ending -en, -den, -tten or -ten. Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

osuus

osuuden

osuuksien

share, part

seitsemäs

seitsemännen

seitsemänsien

the seventh

If the partitive stem ends in -s and the strong-grade plural stem ends in a single vowel, the genitive plural is formed by adding the ending -en to the strong-grade plural stem. Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

varis

variksen

variksien

crow

If the partitive stem ends in -s and the strong-grade plural stem ends in two vowels, the genitive plural is formed by adding either the ending -denor -tten to the strong-grade plural stem.

Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

vieras

vieraan

vieraiden vieraitten

guest

If the partitive stem ends in -s, the genitive plural can also be formed by adding the ending -ten to the partitive stem. Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

varis

variksen

varisten

crow

vieras

vieraan

vierasten

guest

d) Words that end in t If a word ends in t and the strong-grade plural stem ends in a diphthong, the genitive plural is formed by adding either the ending -den or -tten to the stronggrade plural stem. Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

kevät

kevään

keväiden keväitten

spring

ohut

ohuen

ohuiden ohuitten

thin

juossut

juosseen

juosseiden juosseitten

run

syönyt

syöneen

syöneiden syöneitten

eaten

If a word ends in t and the strong-grade plural stem ends in a single vowel, the genitive plural is formed by adding the ending -en to the strong-grade plural stem. This group includes only one word. Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

tuhat

tuhannen

tuhansien

thousand

The genitive plural of this word can also be formed with the aid of the ending -ten, but this form belongs to elevated style. Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

tuhat

tuhannen

tuhanten

thousand

e) Loan words The genitive plural of loan words that end in a consonant is formed by adding the ending -en to the partitive stem. Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

radar

radarin

radarien

radar

stadion

stadionin

stadionien

stadium

Note! The genitive plural can also be formed by adding either the ending -den or -tten to the strong-grade plural stem, if the word has at least three syllables, the strong-grade plural stem ends in a diphthong, and the syllable preceding the case ending is stressed.

Nominative

Genitive sg

Genitive pl

Translation

radar

radarin

radareiden radareitten

radar

stadion

stadionin

stadioneiden stadioneitten

stadium

Partitive

1 Case Endings The essive ending is -a/-ä or -ta/-tä both in the singular and in the plural. Because of vowel harmony the endings have two variants.

2 Formation The partitive singular is formed using the partitive stem and the partitive plural using the strong-grade plural stem. If the partitive stem ends in a consonant or two or more vowels, the partitive ending is -ta/-tä in the singular. Otherwise the ending is -a/-ä.

If a word ends in two or more vowels, a consonant, or a relic consonant, and the strong-grade plural stem ends in two vowels, the partitive ending is -ta/-tä in the plural. Otherwise the ending is -a/-ä. The plural marker ibecomes j between vowels. In the following tables, words have been devided into six groups according to which partitive ending they take in the singular and the plural. A word ends in two or more vowels. Nominative

Partitive sg

Partitive pl

Translation

maa

maata

maita

country

yö

yötä

öitä

night

tienoo

tienoota

tienoita

region

neliö

neliötä

neliöitä

square

A word ends in a single vowel, and the partitive stem ends in a consonant. All these words undergo the vowel change i ~ e.

Nominative

Partitive sg

Partitive pl

Translation

kieli

kieltä

kieliä

language

vesi

vettä

vesiä

water

kansi

kantta

kansia

lid

jälsi

jälttä

jälsiä

cambium

virsi

virttä

virsiä

hymn

yksi

yhtä

yksiä

one

veitsi

veistä

veitsiä

knife

A word ends in a single vowel, and the partitive stem also ends in a vowel. Nominative

Partitive sg

Partitive pl

Translation

koira

koiraa

koiria

dog

kana

kanaa

kanoja

hen

kahvi

kahvia

kahveja

coffee

koulu

koulua

kouluja

school

tammi

tammea

tammia

oak

kurki

kurkea

kurkia

crane

suurempi

suurempaa

suurempia

bigger

A word ends in a consonant, and the partitive stem ends in a vowel. This group only includes some words ending in n and all loan words. The plural marker i becomes j between vowels. Nominative

Partitive sg

Partitive pl

Translation

suurin

suurimpaa

suurimpia

the biggest

vasen

vasempaa

vasempia

left

seitsemän

seitsemää

seitsemiä

seven

stadion

stadionia

stadioneja

stadium

A word ends in a consonant, the partitive stem ends in a consonant, and the strong-grade plural stem ends in a single vowel. Nominative

Partitive sg

Partitive pl

Translation

varis

varista

variksia

crow

osuus

osuutta

osuuksia

share, part

avain

avainta

avaimia

key

ien

ientä

ikeniä

gum

hevonen

hevosta

hevosia

horse

mahdoton

mahdotonta

mahdottomia

impossible

suurin

suurinta

suurimpia

the biggest

askel

askelta

askelia

step

tatar

tatarta

tattaria

knotweed (Polygonum)

tuhat

tuhatta

tuhansia

thousand

A word ends in a consonant or a relic consonant, the partitive stem ends in a consonant, and the strong-grade plural stem ends in a diphthong. Nominative

Partitive sg

Partitive pl

Translation

vene

venettä

veneitä

boat

laite

laitetta

laitteita

device

koe

koetta

kokeita

test

karvas

karvasta

karvaita

bitter

vieras

vierasta

vieraita

guest

kevät

kevättä

keväitä

spring

ohut

ohutta

ohuita

thin

syönyt

syönyttä

syöneitä

eaten

Essive

1 Case Endings The essive ending is -na/-nä both in the singular and in the plural. Because of vowel harmony the ending has two variants.

2 Formation The essive ending always requires a stem in the strong grade. Therefore, the essive singular is formed using the essive stem and the essive plural using the strong-grade plural stem. The essive ending is added directly to these stems.

Nominative

Essive sg

Essive pl

Translation

jalka

jalkana

jalkoina

foot

varas

varkaana

varkaina

thief

talo

talona

taloina

house

vene

veneenä

veneinä

boat

Translative

1 Case Endings The translative ending is -ksi in both the singular and the plural.

2 Formation The translative singular is formed using the genitive stem and the translative plural using the plural stem. The translative ending is added directly to these stems. Nominative

Translative sg

Translative pl

Translation

jalka

jalaksi

jaloiksi

foot

varas

varkaaksi

varkaiksi

thief

talo

taloksi

taloiksi

house

vene

veneeksi

veneiksi

boat

Inessive

1 Case Endings The inessive ending is -ssa/-ssä in both the singular and the plural. Because of vowel harmony the ending has two variants.

2 Formation The inessive singular is formed using the genitive stem and the inessive plural using the plural stem. The inessive ending is added directly to these stems.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

jalka

jalassa

jaloissa

foot

varas

varkaassa

varkaissa

thief

talo

talossa

taloissa

house

vene

veneessä

veneissä

boat

Elative

1 Case Endings The elative ending is -sta/-stä in both the singular and the plural. Because of vowel harmony the ending has two variants.

2 Formation The elative singular is formed using the genitive stem and the elative plural using the plural stem. The elative ending is added directly to these stems.

Nominative

Elative sg

Elative pl

Translation

jalka

jalasta

jaloista

foot

varas

varkaasta

varkaista

thief

talo

talosta

taloista

house

vene

veneestä

veneistä

boat

Illative

1 Case Endings The illative singular ending is -Vn, -hVn, or -seen in which the V indicates the final vowel in the essive stem. The illative plural ending is -in, -hin, or -siin.

2 Formation The illative always requires a stem in the strong grade. Therefore, the illative singular is formed using the essive stem and the illative plural using the stronggrade plural stem. For the illative singular, there are three different case endings.

The ending -Vn is used, when the stem ends in a single vowel or a vowel cluster that does not form a diphthong. The ending -hVn is used, when the essive stem ends in a diphthong or a long vowel and the nominative stem ends in a vowel. The ending -seen is used, when the essive stem ends in a long vowel and the nominative stem ends in a consonant or a relic consonant. For the illative plural, there are three different case endings, too.

2.1

Words that end in a vowel

If a word ends in a single vowel or two vowels that do not form a diphthong and the stem ends in a single vowel, the illative singular is formed with the ending -Vn. Analogously, if the stem ends in a single vowel, the plural is formed with the ending -in. Nominative

Illative sg

Illative pl

Translation

kova

kovaan

koviin

hard

reikä

reikään

reikiin

hole

vesi

veteen

vesiin

water

kansi

kanteen

kansiin

lid

jälsi

jälteen

jälsiin

cambium

virsi

virteen

virsiin

hymn

The illative plural ending -hin is used, when the strong-grade plural stemends in a diphthong or a long vowel. The singular is formed with the ending -Vn as above. Nominative

Illative sg

Illative pl

Translation

kana

kanaan

kanoihin

hen

nalle

nalleen

nalleihin

teddy bear

kiivi

kiiviin

kiiveihin

kiwi fruit

aatto

aattoon

aattoihin

eve

koulu

kouluun

kouluihin

school

pyry

pyryyn

pyryihin

snowstorm

säilö

säilöön

säilöihin

storage

neliö

neliöön

neliöihin

square

If a one-syllable word ends in a long vowel or a diphthong, the illative singular is formed by adding the ending -hVn to the essive stem. The plural is formed by adding the ending -hin to the strong-grade plural stem. Nominative

Illative sg

Illative pl

Translation

maa

maahan

maihin

country

tee

teehen

teihin

tea

puu

puuhun

puihin

tree

pää

päähän

päihin

head

hai

haihin

haihin

shark

suo

suohon

soihin

marsh

tie

tiehen

teihin

road

työ

työhön

töihin

work

If a polysyllabic word ends in a long vowel or a diphthong, the illative singular is formed with the ending -seen. The plural is formed with the ending -siin. Nominative

Illative sg

Illative pl

Translation

vapaa

vapaaseen

vapaisiin

free

tienoo

tienooseen

tienoisiin

region

hakkuu

hakkuuseen

hakkuisiin

logging

2.2

Words that end in a relic consonant

If a word ends in a relic consonant, the illative singular is formed with the ending -seen and the plural with the ending -siin or -hin.

Nominative

Illative sg

Illative pl

Translation

vene

veneeseen

veneisiin

boat

veneihin

koe

kokeeseen

kokeisiin

test

kokeihin

laite

laitteeseen

laitteisiin

laitteihin

device

2.3

Words that end in l, n, or r

If a word ends in l, n, or r, the illative singular is formed with the ending -Vn and the plural with the ending -in. Nominative

Illative sg

Illative pl

Translation

askel

askeleen

askeliin

step

kyynel

kyyneleen

kyyneliin

tear

sävel

säveleen

säveliin

note, melody

sammal

sammaleen

sammaliin

moss

nivel

niveleen

niveliin

joint

kannel

kanteleeseen

kanteleisiin

kantele

ommel

ompeleeseen

ompeleisiin

stitch

taival

taipaleeseen

taipaleisiin

trip

vemmel

vempeleeseen

vempeleisiin

avain

avaimeen

avaimiin

key

sydän

sydämeen

sydämiin

heart

hapan

happamaan

happamiin

bitter

lämmin

lämpimään

lämpimiin

warm

sisar

sisareen

sisariin

sister

tytär

tyttäreen

tyttäriin

daughter

In this group, there are words whose nominative stem can also have an additional -e. These words decline like the words ending in a relic consonant (see above). Nominative

Illative sg

Illative pl

Translation

kantele (kannel)

kanteleeseen

kanteleisiin kanteleihin

kantele (an instrument)

kypene (kyven)

kypeneeseen

kypeneisiin kypeneihin

spark

pientare (piennar)

pientareeseen

pientareisiin pientareihin

edge, shoulder (of a road)

2.5

Words that end in t

If a word ends in t, the illative singular is formed by lengthening the last vowel of the essive stem and adding -n after it. The illative plural is formed by adding the ending -siin to the strong-grade plural stem. Nominative

Illative sg

Illative pl

Translation

ohut

ohueen

ohuisiin

thin

neitsyt

neitsyeen

neitsyihin

tear

lyhyt

lyhyeen

lyhyisiin

shot

olut

olueen

oluisiin

beer

tiehyt

tiehyeen

tiehyihin

duct

Adessive

1 Case Endings The adessive ending is -lla/-llä both in the singular and in the plural. Because of vowel harmony the ending has two variants.

2 Formation The adessive singular is formed using the genitive stem and the adessive plural using the plural stem. The adessive ending is added directly to these stems. Nominative

Adessive sg

Adessive pl

Translation

jalka

jalalla

jaloilla

foot

varas

varkaalla

varkailla

thief

talo

talolla

taloilla

house

vene

veneellä

veneillä

boat

Ablative

1 Case Endings The ablative ending is -lta/-ltä both in the singular and in the plural. Because of vowel harmony the ending has two variants.

2 Formation The ablative singular is formed using the genitive stem and the ablative plural using the plural stem. The ablative ending is added directly to these stems. Nominative

Ablative sg

Ablative pl

Translation

jalka

jalalta

jaloilta

foot

varas

varkaalta

varkailta

thief

talo

talolta

taloilta

house

vene

veneeltä

veneiltä

boat

Allative

1 Case Endings The allative ending is -lle both in the singular and in the plural.

2 Formation The allative singular is formed using the genitive stem and the allative plural using the plural stem. The allative ending is added directly to these stems. Nominative

Allative sg

Allative pl

Translation

jalka

jalalle

jaloille

foot

varas

varkaalle

varkaille

thief

talo

talolle

taloille

house

vene

veneelle

veneille

boat

Abessive

1 Case Endings The abessive ending is -tta/-ttä both in the singular and in the plural. Because of vowel harmony the ending has two variants.

2 Formation The abessive singular is formed using the genitive stem and the abessive plural using the plural stem. The abessive ending is added directly to these stems. Nominative

Abessive sg

Abessive pl

Translation

jalka

jalatta

jaloitta

foot

varas

varkaatta

varkaitta

thief

talo

talotta

taloitta

house

vene

veneettä

veneittä

boat

Comitative

1 Case Endings The comitative ending is -ne in the plural. Singular forms do not exist, but plural forms are always used no matter, if the meaning is singular or plural.

2 Formation The comitative plural is formed using the strong-grade plural stem. The comitative ending is added directly to this stem. In addition, nouns always require a possessive suffix. The possessive suffixes are -ni 'my', -si 'your' (sg), -en/nsa 'his, her, its, their', -mme 'our', and -nne 'your' (pl). Nominative

Comitative pl

Translation

jalka

jalkoineni

foot

varas

varkainesi

thief

talo

taloineen

house

vene

veneinemme

boat

Instructive

1 Case Endings The instructive ending is -n both in the singular and in the plural.

2 Formation The instructive singular is formed using the genitive stem and the instructive plural using the plural stem. The instructive ending is added directly to these stems. The singular is not formed from all words. Nominative

Instructive sg

Instructive pl

Translation

jalka

jalan

jaloin

foot

varas

varkain

thief

talo

taloin

house

vene

venein

boat

Case Endings

Singular

Plural

Nominative

-

-t

Accusative

-n / - / -t

-t

Genitive

-n

-en / -in / -den / -tten / -ten

Partitive

-a / -ä / -ta / -tä

-a / -ä / -ta / -tä

Essive

-na / -nä

-na / -nä

Translative

-ksi

-ksi

Inessive

-ssa / -ssä

-ssa / -ssä

Elative

-sta / -stä

-sta / -stä

Illative

-·n / -h·n / -seen

-in / -hin / -siin

Adessive

-lla / -llä

-lla / -llä

Ablative

-lta / -ltä

-lta / -ltä

Allative

-lle

-lle

Abessive

-tta / -ttä

-tta / -ttä

Comitative

Instructive

-ne

-n

-n

Singular

Plural

Superessive

-alla / -ällä

Delative

-alta / -ältä

Sublative

-alle / -nne

Lative

-s

Temporal

-lloin / -llöin

Causative

-ten

Multiplicative

-sti

Distributive

-ttain / -ttäin

Temporal distributive

-ten

-ttain / -ttäin

-sin

Prolative

-tse

Situative

-kkain / -kkäin

Oppositive

-tusten / -tysten

-tse

Basic cases Nominative The nominative indicates the subject or the predicate complement of the sentence. The singular form does not have a suffix. The plural suffix is -t. Finnish enkeli enkelit

English the angel the angels

Genitive The genitive indicates the possessor. It often corresponds to the English genitive suffix 's or the preposition of. The genitive suffix is -n in the singular and -en/in/-den/-tten/-ten in the plural. The plural suffix which is selected depends on the type of word, but there are often many alternatives, anyway. Finnish enkelin enkelien enkelein enkeleiden enkeleitten enkelten

English the angel's the angels' the angels' the angels' the angels' the angels'

Accusative The accusative indicates the object of the action. In the singular, the accusative has either no suffix or its suffix is -n/-t. Thus all the nominals, except for some exceptions, have two accusative forms which are always similar either to the nominative or the genitive. The accusative suffix which is selected depends on the context in the sentence. The accusative singular suffix -t is used only with personal pronouns and the interrogative pronoun kuka 'who'. In the plural, the accusative suffix is always -t and that makes the form similar to the nominative plural. Finnish enkeli enkelin enkelit

English the angel the angel the angels

General local cases Partitive The partitive indicates a part of something. Along with the accusative, the partitive also indicates the object of the action. Anyway, the main difference is that the accusative is used, when the action is directed at the whole object, and the partitive, when the action is directed only at a part of it. In English, this difference is sometimes expressed by omitting the article or by replacing it by the word some. The partitive suffix is -a/-ä/-ta/-tä in both the singular

and in the plural. Finnish taloa taloja

English (a part of) a house (some) houses

Essive The essive expresses the state of something. It often corresponds to the preposition as. The essive suffix is -na/-nä in both the singular and in the plural. Finnish talona taloina

English as the house as the houses

Translative The translative expresses the result of a process of change. The English verbbecome includes the meaning of this case, for example. The translative suffix is -ksi in both the singular and in the plural. Finnish taloksi taloiksi

English becoming a house becoming houses

Interior local cases Inessive The inessive expresses a location within something. It often corresponds to the preposition in. The inessive suffix is -ssa/-ssä in both the singular and in the plural.

Finnish talossa taloissa

English in the house in the houses

Elative The elative expresses motion out of or away from something. It often corresponds to the prepositions out of or from. The elative suffix is -sta/stäin both the singular and in the plural. Finnish talosta taloista

English out of the house out of the houses

Illative The illative expresses motion into something. It often corresponds to the prepositions in or into. The illative suffix is -h·n, -seen or vowel lengthening +n in the singular and -hin or -siin in the plural. Finnish taloon taloihin

English into the house into the houses

Exterior local cases Adessive The adessive expresses the location on or near something. It often corresponds to the preposition on. The adessive suffix is -lla/-llä in both the singular and in the plural. Finnish

English

pöydällä pöydillä

on the table on the tables

Ablative The ablative expresses motion from the surface or vicinity of something. It often corresponds to the prepositions off or from. The ablative suffix is -lta/ltä in both the singular and in the plural. Finnish pöydältä pöydiltä

English from the table from the tables

Allative The allative expresses motion onto the surface or to the vicinity of something. It often corresponds to the prepositions on or onto. The allative suffix is -lle in both the singular and in the plural. Finnish pöydälle pöydille

English onto the table onto the tables

Means cases Abessive The abessive expresses the lack of something. It often corresponds to the preposition without. The abessive suffix is -tta/-ttä in both the singular and in the plural. Finnish jalatta

English without the foot

jaloitta

without the feet

Comitative The comitative expresses the presence of something. It often corresponds to the preposition with. The comitative suffix is -ne in the plural. The comitative does not occur in the singular, but plural forms are used instead, even if the meaning is singular. The nouns require a possessive suffix as well. Finnish jalkoineen

English with his/her feet

Instructive The instructive expresses the means or the instrument used to perform the action. It often corresponds to the preposition with. The instructive suffix is -nin both the singular and in the plural. Singular forms are not very common. Finnish jalan jaloin

English by foot with the feet

Adverbial cases Overview The usage of adverbial cases is limited to a small number of words. Adverbial cases do not normally have attributes. That is why they are often regarded as adverbs.

Superessive

The usage of the superessive is limited to a small number of pronouns. The superessive expresses a place where something is located. The superessive suffix is -alla/-ällä in the singular. The plural forms are not used. Finnish täällä tuolla siellä muualla toisaalla yhtäällä moniaalla kaikkialla

English here over there there elsewhere elsewhere in one place in many places everywhere

Delative The usage of the delative is limited to a small number of pronouns. The delative expresses a place where something comes from. The delative suffix is -alta/-ältä in the singular. The plural forms are not used. Finnish täältä tuolta sieltä muualta toisaalta yhtäältä moniaalta kaikkialta

English from here from over there from there from elsewhere from elsewhere on the other hand from one place from many places from everywhere

Sublative The usage of the sublative is limited to a small number of pronouns. The sublative expresses a place where something goes to. The sublative suffix is -alle or -nne in the singular. The plural forms are not used.

Finnish minne jonne tänne tuonne sinne muualle muuanne toisaalle yhtäälle moniaalle kaikkialle

English where to where (relative pronoun) here over there there elsewhere elsewhere elsewhere to one place to many places to everywhere

Lative The usage of the lative is limited to a small number of adverb stems and comparative forms. The lative expresses a place where something goes to. The lative suffix is -s or - in the singular. The plural forms are not used. Finnish alas ylös taa luo työ taas edes lähemmäs kauemmas alemmas ylemmäs taemmas edemmäs rannemmas

English down up behind to to again at least, even closer to further, farther away, farther off farther down higher up further back farther on, farther off closer to the shore

Temporal The usage of the temporal is limited to a small number of pronouns. The temporal expresses the point in time. The temporal suffix is -lloin/-llöin in the singular. The plural forms are not used. Finnish milloin jolloin tällöin silloin tuolloin muulloin

English when when (relative) at this time then at that time at another time

Causative The usage of the causative is limited to a small number of pronouns, adjectives and their superlative forms. The causative suffix is -ten in both the singular and in the plural. Finnish joten siten täten miten kuten

English so, thus, therefore thus, therefore hereby, thus how as, like

jotenkin kuitenkin kuitenkaan jotenkuten vähiten parhaiten nopeiten eniten kauiten useimmiten vanhemmiten

somehow anyway anyway (negative) somehow (the) least best fastest most longest mostly later in life

Multiplicative The usage of the multiplicative is limited to a small number of nouns (especially swear words), pronouns and short numerals. Moreover, all the adjectives decline in the multiplicative. In the multiplicative, swear words express a huge amount of something or the power of the action. Adjectives express the means of the action and pronouns and numerals express how many times the action is performed. The multiplicative suffix is -sti in the singular. The plural forms are not used. Finnish pirusti leikisti kauniisti useasti monesti kolmesti pakosti

English a damned lot not really beautifully many times many times three times, thrice by force

Distributive The usage of the distributive is limited to a small number of nouns, adjectives and numerals. The distributive suffix is -ttain/-ttäin in both the singular and in the plural. Singular forms are used very seldom. Finnish English paikoittain here and there suomalaisittainin a Finnish way yksittäin one at a time ryhmittäin a group at a time

Temporal Distributive The usage of the temporal distributive is limited to a small number of adverb stems and nouns. The temporal distributive expresses the origin of something or the frequent point in time. The temporal distributive suffix is -sin in the plural. The singular forms are not used. Finnish English maanantaisin Mondays

arkisin weekdays pyhisin Sundays and holidays viikonloppuisin weekends, on the weekend kesäisin summers, in the summer talvisin winters, in the winter aikaisin early alkuisin originally lähtöisin originally peräisin originally syntyisin born (in), by birth, originally sekaisin in disorder, mixed up takaisin back jalkaisin by foot

Prolative The usage of the prolative is limited to a small number of nouns and adverb stems. The prolative expresses the means by which something can go or be sent. The prolative suffix is -tse in both the singular and in the plural. Singular forms are seldom used. Finnish postitse maitse jäitse meritse vesitse lentoteitse ohitse lävitse alitse ylitse

English by mail by land across the ice by sea by water by plane over through under over

Situative The usage of the situative is limited to a small number of adverb stems and nouns. The situative expresses the location of two things compared with each other. The situative suffix is -kkain/-kkäin in the singular. The plural forms are not used. Finnish nenäkkäin nokakkain sisäkkäin vastakkain lähekkäin vierekkäin seläkkäin

English nose to nose beak to beak inside each other, one inside the other against each other, opposite to each other near to each other, close together next to each other, side by side back to back