B1 Finnish GrammarSubjunctive II (Konjunktiv II)
Master Finnish conditional mood for expressing hypothetical situations, wishes, and polite requests. Learn to form and use the conditional (-isi-), understand conditional sentences, and express politeness in everyday Finnish conversation.
1Forming the Conditional Mood
Finnish conditional is formed by adding -isi- to the verb stem before personal endings. Remove the infinitive ending, add -isi-, then add personal endings. For type 1 verbs: puhua→puhuisin. The conditional expresses what would happen under certain conditions.
Conditional Conjugation
| Person | Puhua | Olla | Tehdä |
|---|---|---|---|
| minä | puhuisin | olisin | tekisin |
| sinä | puhuisit | olisit | tekisit |
| hän | puhuisi | olisi | tekisi |
| me | puhuisimme | olisimme | tekisimme |
| he | puhuisivat | olisivat | tekisivät |
Examples
Haluaisin kahvia.
I would like coffee.
polite request with conditional
Hän olisi iloinen.
He/She would be happy.
olla in conditional
Tekisitkö sen minulle?
Would you do it for me?
polite question
Menisimme mielellämme.
We would gladly go.
willingness with conditional
2Conditional Sentences (Jos-lauseet)
Finnish conditional sentences use 'jos' (if) with the conditional mood in both clauses for unreal conditions. For real/possible conditions, use present tense. The conditional expresses what would happen if circumstances were different.
Conditional Sentence Types
| Type | If-Clause | Main Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Real | Jos + present | Present/future |
| Unreal present | Jos + conditional | Conditional |
| Unreal past | Jos + olisi + participle | olisi + participle |
Examples
Jos olisin rikas, matkustaisin paljon.
If I were rich, I would travel a lot.
unreal present condition
Jos hän tulisi, olisimme iloisia.
If he came, we would be happy.
hypothetical condition
Jos olisin tiennyt, olisin auttanut.
If I had known, I would have helped.
unreal past condition
Mitä tekisit, jos voittaisit lotossa?
What would you do if you won the lottery?
hypothetical question
3Expressing Wishes and Regrets
Use the conditional with 'kunpa' or 'jospa' to express wishes. For past wishes (regrets), use conditional perfect: olisi + past participle. These constructions express what you wish were true or had happened differently.
Wish Expressions
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Kunpa + conditional | If only... | Kunpa osaisin |
| Jospa + conditional | I wish... | Jospa hän tulisi |
| olisi + participle | wish (past) | olisi tullut |
| Pitäisi | should | Minun pitäisi |
Examples
Kunpa osaisin puhua suomea paremmin!
If only I could speak Finnish better!
present wish
Jospa hän olisi täällä.
I wish he/she were here.
wish contrary to fact
Olisin halunnut nähdä sen.
I would have wanted to see it.
past regret
Minun olisi pitänyt soittaa.
I should have called.
past obligation unfulfilled
4Polite Requests and Suggestions
The conditional makes requests more polite in Finnish. Use conditional forms of haluta (want), voida (can), and saada (may) for courteous requests. This is essential in formal situations and when speaking to strangers.
Polite Expressions
| Direct | Polite | English |
|---|---|---|
| Anna minulle... | Voisitko antaa... | Could you give... |
| Haluan... | Haluaisin... | I would like... |
| Voitko...? | Voisitko...? | Could you...? |
| Tee se! | Tekisitkö sen? | Would you do it? |
Examples
Voisitko auttaa minua?
Could you help me?
polite request
Haluaisin varata pöydän.
I would like to book a table.
polite wish
Saisinko laskun?
Could I have the bill?
polite request for service
Olisiko teillä aikaa?
Would you have time?
formal polite question