B1 Finnish GrammarGenitive Case
Master the Finnish genitive case, which expresses possession and relationships between nouns. The genitive ending -n attaches to the noun stem and is one of the most frequently used cases in Finnish. Learn formation rules, consonant gradation, and the many uses beyond simple possession.
1Basic Genitive Formation
The genitive singular is formed by adding -n to the noun stem. For most nouns, this stem is the same as the nominative. However, consonant gradation often applies, causing the final consonant to change. The genitive plural uses different endings depending on the noun type.
Genitive Singular Formation
| Nominative | Stem | Genitive |
|---|---|---|
| talo (house) | talo- | talon |
| kirja (book) | kirja- | kirjan |
| auto (car) | auto- | auton |
| koira (dog) | koira- | koiran |
| pöytä (table) | pöydä- | pöydän |
| katu (street) | kadu- | kadun |
Examples
Tämä on koiran ruoka.
This is the dog's food.
koiran = genitive of koira
Talon ovi on auki.
The house's door is open.
talon = genitive of talo
Auton väri on punainen.
The car's color is red.
auton = genitive of auto
Kirjan nimi on pitkä.
The book's name is long.
kirjan = genitive of kirja
2Consonant Gradation in Genitive
Many Finnish nouns undergo consonant gradation in the genitive. Strong consonants (pp, tt, kk, p, t, k) become weak (p, t, k, v/-, d/-, -/v) when the syllable becomes closed by adding -n. This pattern is essential for correct genitive forms.
Gradation Patterns
| Strong | Weak | Nominative → Genitive |
|---|---|---|
| pp | p | kauppa → kaupan |
| tt | t | matto → maton |
| kk | k | kukka → kukan |
| p | v | tapa → tavan |
| t | d | katu → kadun |
| k | ∅ (nothing) | laki → lain |
Examples
Kaupan nimi on Sale.
The shop's name is Sale.
kauppa → kaupan (pp → p)
Maton väri on sininen.
The carpet's color is blue.
matto → maton (tt → t)
Kukan tuoksu on ihana.
The flower's scent is lovely.
kukka → kukan (kk → k)
Lain mukaan se on kielletty.
According to the law it is forbidden.
laki → lain (k disappears)
3Uses of the Genitive
The genitive has many uses beyond possession. It marks the object of certain verbs, appears before postpositions, indicates the subject of certain sentence types, and is required with many adjectives and expressions. It is one of the most versatile Finnish cases.
Genitive Functions
| Function | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| possession | isän auto | father's car |
| before postposition | talon edessä | in front of the house |
| total object | Luin kirjan. | I read the book. |
| with necessity | Minun täytyy mennä. | I must go. |
| with adjectives | lapsen kokoinen | child-sized |
Examples
Istun pöydän ääressä.
I sit at the table.
pöydän before postposition ääressä
Sinun pitää tulla.
You must come.
sinun with necessity verb pitää
Luin koko kirjan.
I read the whole book.
kirjan = total object
Se on käden kokoinen.
It is hand-sized.
käden with adjective kokoinen
4Genitive Plural
The genitive plural is more complex than the singular. Common endings include -jen, -ien, -iden/-itten, and -ten. The choice depends on the noun type. Some nouns have multiple acceptable plural genitive forms. This is one of the trickier aspects of Finnish.
Genitive Plural Patterns
| Nominative Sg. | Nominative Pl. | Genitive Pl. |
|---|---|---|
| talo | talot | talojen |
| kirja | kirjat | kirjojen |
| auto | autot | autojen |
| koira | koirat | koirien / koirain |
| nainen | naiset | naisten |
| ihminen | ihmiset | ihmisten |
Examples
Talojen hinnat nousevat.
House prices are rising.
talojen = genitive plural
Lasten lelut ovat lattialla.
The children's toys are on the floor.
lasten = irregular genitive plural
Kirjojen sivut ovat kellastuneita.
The books' pages are yellowed.
kirjojen = genitive plural
Ihmisten mielipiteet vaihtelevat.
People's opinions vary.
ihmisten = genitive plural of ihminen