Finnish Grammar
Master Finnish step by step — from foundations to advanced
Grammar
39Phonology
2Cases
15Nominative Case
Nominatiivi
Basic form of nouns, subject of sentence
Genitive Case
Genetiivi
Possession, object of certain verbs
Partitive Case
Partitiivi
Partial quantity, indefinite objects, negation
Inessive Case
Inessiivi
Location inside something (-ssa/-ssä)
Elative Case
Elatiivi
Movement out from inside (-sta/-stä)
Illative Case
Illatiivi
Movement into something (-Vn, -hVn, -seen)
Adessive Case
Adessiivi
Location on surface, possession (-lla/-llä)
Ablative Case
Ablatiivi
Movement from surface (-lta/-ltä)
Allative Case
Allatiivi
Movement onto surface (-lle)
Essive Case
Essiivi
State or role (-na/-nä)
Translative Case
Translatiivi
Change of state, becoming (-ksi)
Accusative (Pronouns Only)
Akkusatiivi (pronomineissa)
Pronoun object forms minut, sinut, hänet, meidät, teidät, heidät, kenet
Instructive Case
Instruktiivi
Means/manner with -in, plural only (jaloin, omin silmin)
Abessive Case
Abessiivi
“Without” with -tta/-ttä (rahatta, työttä)
Comitative Case
Komitatiivi
“Together with” with -ine-, always plural (vaimoineen)
Verbs
7Verb Types 1–6
Verbityypit 1–6
The six Finnish verb conjugation classes and their stems
Verb Conjugation
Verbien taivutus
Correct verb forms for different persons
Verb Tenses
Aikamuodot
Present, past, perfect, pluperfect usage
Passive Voice
Passiivi
Impersonal and passive constructions
Conditional Mood
Konditionaali
Would/could expressions (-isi-)
Imperative Mood
Imperatiivi
Commands and requests
Potential Mood
Potentiaali
-ne- mood expressing possibility/uncertainty (lienee, tullee)
Morphology
6Possessive Suffixes
Possessiivisuffiksit
Suffixes -ni, -si, -nsa/-Vn, -mme, -nne after case endings
Plural Forms
Monikko
T-plural and i-plural; partitive plural -ja/-jä, -ita/-itä
Object Cases (Total vs. Partitive)
Objektin sijat
Choosing partitive vs. total object based on aspect and result
Participles (NUT, VA, TU, TAVA, MA)
Partisiipit (NUT, VA, TU, TAVA, MA)
Active/passive past and present participles, agent participle
Infinitives (1st – 5th)
Infinitiivit
A-, E- (II), MA- (III), MINEN (IV), MAISILLA (V) infinitives
Numerals & Counting
Numeraalit
Cardinal/ordinal numerals; partitive after numbers > 1
Syntax & Sentence Structure
9Word Order
Sanajärjestys
Correct Finnish sentence structure
Negation
Kieltolauseet
Negative sentences with ei-verb
Question Formation
Kysymyslauseet
Question words and -ko/-kö questions
Comparatives & Superlatives
Vertailumuodot
Comparative and superlative forms
Postpositions
Postpositiot
edessä, takana, kanssa, jälkeen — usually with genitive
Clitics (-kin, -kaan, -han, -pa, -ko)
Liitepartikkelit
Sentence particles for focus, emphasis, hedging, questions
Relative Clauses
Relatiivilauseet
joka, mikä — relative pronoun and case agreement
Verb Rection
Verbien rektio
Cases required by specific verbs (tykätä jostakin, luottaa johonkin)
Colloquial Finnish (Puhekieli)
Puhekieli
mä/sä/se/ne pronouns, dropped sounds, spoken endings
Vocabulary
15Thematic Vocabulary
13Everyday Vocabulary
Arkisanasto
Common daily life words and expressions
Work Vocabulary
Työsanasto
Professional and workplace terminology
Health Vocabulary
Terveydenhoitosanasto
Medical and health-related terms
Travel Vocabulary
Matkailusanasto
Travel and transportation terms
Family Vocabulary
Perhesanasto
Family and relationships vocabulary
Food Vocabulary
Ruokasanasto
Food, cooking, and restaurant terms
Nature Vocabulary
Luontosanasto
Nature and environment terminology
Education Vocabulary
Opiskelusanasto
Education and study-related terms
Housing Vocabulary
Asumissanasto
Housing and living terms
Culture Vocabulary
Kulttuurisanasto
Culture, hobbies, and leisure terms
Idiomatic Expressions
Idiomit
Finnish idioms and fixed expressions
Compound Words
Yhdyssanat
Understanding and forming compound words
Loanwords
Lainasanat
Borrowed words from other languages
Register & Style
2Functions
15Register & Style
5Formal Writing Style
Virallinen kirjoitustyyli
Appropriate formal writing conventions
Informal Writing Style
Epävirallinen kirjoitustyyli
Casual and friendly writing style
Clarity & Coherence
Selkeys ja johdonmukaisuus
Clear and logical expression
Text Structure
Tekstin rakenne
Organizing content effectively
Register Appropriateness
Rekisterin sopivuus
Using appropriate formality level
Communication
10Expressing Opinion
Mielipiteen ilmaisu
Stating and supporting opinions
Making Requests
Pyyntöjen esittäminen
Polite and appropriate requests
Giving Instructions
Ohjeiden antaminen
Clear directions and instructions
Describing
Kuvaileminen
Describing people, places, things
Narrating
Kerronta
Telling stories and events
Comparing
Vertaileminen
Comparing options and alternatives
Explaining
Selittäminen
Explaining reasons and processes
Arguing
Argumentointi
Presenting and defending arguments
Agreeing & Disagreeing
Samaa/eri mieltä oleminen
Expressing agreement or disagreement
Expressing Emotions
Tunteiden ilmaisu
Conveying feelings and emotions