Finnish grammar 1: verbs

Some who have learned Finnish words from Sulkasiipi seem to be serious about learning Finnish and would want to learn grammar as well. I wish to contribute to their studies a little bit. Finnish has a complicated grammar, but you got to start somewhere - e.g. here.

The good news is that the endings presented in this video apply to all verbs, only 3.person singular is slightly irregular. The root changes, however, are numerous; this is just a small fraction of the variety.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Learn
• Finnish
• grammar
• verbs
• present
• tense
• linguistics
• languages
• Sulkasiipi

[ProLimukka]

The apostrope is used when two identical vowels in different syllables collide, to distinguish them from long vowels. This applies even if no k is dissapearing. Otherwise a dissapearing k is not indicated by an apostrophe, e.g. ruoka (food) > ruoan (food's), or jalka (foot) > jalat (feet)



[ProLimukka]

Note, that a participe form connected to "te" is singular if the word is used in singular.

Example: "Have you slept well?" =

- Oletko [sinä] nukkunut hyvin? (one person, informal)

- Oletteko [te] nukkunut hyvin? (one person, formal)

- Oletteko [te] nukkuneet hyvin? (two or more persons, formal or informal)

[Moldilocks]

In finnish " sinä " means you ( " sä" in vernacular language ), te means you ( plural ) AND Te means you when addressing someone formally.

For example the elderly are always addressed Te ( singular ).

examples :

" Nukuitteko hyvin ? " = Did You sleep well ? / to the elderly or people somehow "above" you ( bosses at working places are rarely addressed formally though :-)

and to your friend etc. = Nukuitko hyvin ? ( Did you sleep well ? )

[ProLimukka]

@Moldilocks

Actually, writing "Te" with capital initial is considered foreign influence in Finnish, and is neither used consistently nor recommended. In stead, one could say that "te" has two meanings: (1) you (plural, formal or informal) and (2) you (formal singular).

[jesusfreak1487]

I have a quick question. In every verb, in the third person plural, you end it in 'vat' except for 'syöda' which you end in 'vät' ...how do you distinguish between them?

[ProLimukka]

@jesusfreak1487

[isolecithal]

cool video... Finnish is interesting

[ProLimukka]

One key thing about learning languages is to become aware that not all things are specificly expressed in all languages. All languages have strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, learning several languages increases one's ability to think, experience and express.

[BashiTheSexyStalker]

@karteorhan Watch out, we got a language badass over here!

[kelRapunzel]

@karteorhan yes ..Turkish plural suffixes are only two -lar -ler but in Kırgız they become crazy 16 !!

lar ler lor lör dar der dor dör ,tar ter tor tör ,nar ner nor nör ...thanks to vocal harmony ,It's same with Yakutian ..but i love both of them ^_^

[loonaloonyluvgood]

the driving part is so funny:)

[mie70]

This sentence is extremly important: Minä liu'un. (I am sliding):)

[Krriikkis]

@VFB1210 That's how it's written. When you say it out loud, there's sort of a... gap between the u's. Sorry, I can't explain this further. :p

[VFB1210]

Just a question, in the verbs that have the disappearing k, you replaced the k with an apostrophe, as in Liu'un, is that actually how the word is written, or did you do that to emphasize the disappearance of the k?

[udetje]

Beatles!!!

[karteorhan]

finnish is similar to kyrgyz language. actually im turkish and i learned finnish in 3 months with practices everyday.

in kyrgyz language drive means "ajdoo"

men ajdajmin

sen ajdajsin

al ajdajt

and to be means "olmak" in turkish. and "boluu" in kyrgyz

but turkish is easier :P

[usaaok]

I am really loving this language, very fun to study!