A1 Finnish GrammarCommon Verbs (olla, pitää)
Master the most essential Finnish verbs: olla (to be) and pitää (to like, to have to). These verbs are used in almost every sentence and have unique conjugation patterns. Learn their present tense forms and common expressions.
1The Verb 'Olla' (To Be)
'Olla' is the most important Finnish verb, used for identity, description, location, and possession. It has irregular forms that must be memorized. The negative conjugates the negative verb 'ei' while 'olla' stays as 'ole'.
Conjugation of 'Olla'
| Person | Positive | Negative | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| minä | olen | en ole | I am / am not |
| sinä | olet | et ole | you are / are not |
| hän | on | ei ole | he/she is / is not |
| me | olemme | emme ole | we are / are not |
| te | olette | ette ole | you are / are not |
| he | ovat | eivät ole | they are / are not |
Examples
Minä olen suomalainen.
I am Finnish.
olen = I am (identity)
Hän on kotona.
He/She is at home.
on = is (location)
Oletko sinä opiskelija?
Are you a student?
oletko = are you? (question)
Me emme ole väsyneitä.
We are not tired.
emme ole = we are not
2Using 'Olla' for Possession
Finnish expresses 'to have' using 'olla' with the adessive case (-lla/-llä). 'Minulla on' literally means 'at me is' but translates as 'I have'. This is a fundamental structure that differs from English.
Expressing Possession
| Finnish | Literal | English |
|---|---|---|
| minulla on | at me is | I have |
| sinulla on | at you is | you have |
| hänellä on | at him/her is | he/she has |
| meillä on | at us is | we have |
Examples
Minulla on koira.
I have a dog.
minulla on = I have
Onko sinulla aikaa?
Do you have time?
sinulla = at you (possession)
Hänellä on kaksi lasta.
He/She has two children.
hänellä on = he/she has
Meillä ei ole autoa.
We don't have a car.
meillä ei ole = we don't have
3The Verb 'Pitää' (To Like, Must)
'Pitää' has two main meanings: 'to like' (with elative -sta/-stä) and 'must/have to' (with genitive). Both meanings use the same conjugation but different constructions. This verb is essential for expressing preferences and obligations.
Two Uses of 'Pitää'
| Structure | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| pitää + elative (-sta) | to like | Pidän kahvista. (I like coffee.) |
| genitive + pitää + infinitive | must/have to | Minun pitää mennä. (I must go.) |
Examples
Pidän suomalaisesta ruoasta.
I like Finnish food.
pidän + elative = I like
Pidätkö jäätelöstä?
Do you like ice cream?
pidätkö = do you like?
Minun pitää lähteä nyt.
I have to leave now.
minun pitää = I must
Sinun pitää opiskella.
You have to study.
sinun pitää = you must
4Other Essential Verbs
Learn other high-frequency verbs: tulla (to come), mennä (to go), tehdä (to do/make), sanoa (to say), tietää (to know). These verbs appear constantly in everyday Finnish and follow regular conjugation patterns.
Common Verbs
| Infinitive | 1st Person | 3rd Person | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| tulla | tulen | tulee | to come |
| mennä | menen | menee | to go |
| tehdä | teen | tekee | to do/make |
| tietää | tiedän | tietää | to know |
Examples
Tulen huomenna.
I will come tomorrow.
tulen = I come/will come
Minne sinä menet?
Where are you going?
menet = you go
Mitä sinä teet?
What are you doing?
teet = you do
En tiedä.
I don't know.
tiedä = know (connegative)