6 Verb types to help you to conjugate Finnish verbs
The verb typology helps you to conjugate the verbs. There are six different types of verbs, and you will identify them by infinitive forms (that's the form you'll find in the dictionary).
Verb type 1
-A/-Ä
This type ends with two vowels, and you get the stem by removing the last vowel, which is always a or ä. If there's consonant gradation, the infinitive and the 3rd person are always in strong grade, other persons in weak grade.
| 1. infinitive | 1. person sing. | 3. person sing. | imperfect |
| puhua | puhun | puhuu | puhuin |
| lukea | luen | lukee | luin |
| rakastaa | rakastan | rakastaa | rakastin |
| tuntea | tunnen | tuntee | tunsin |
| ymmärtää | ymmärrän | ymmärtää | ymmärtäisin |
Verb type 2
-DA/-DÄ
You get the stem by removing the da/dä -ending. There's never consonant gradation in this type.
| 1. infinitive | 1. person sing. | 3. person sing. | imperfect |
| juo-da | juo-n | juo | join |
| jäädä | jään | jää | jäin |
| saada | saan | saa | sain |
| viedä | vien | vie | vein |
| voida | voin | voi | voin |
Verb type 3
There are four different endings in this type. You get the stem by removing the ending. In the personal conjugation, you must add e before the personal ending. Consonant gradation is possible only in the verbs ending with -la/lä, then infinitive is in weak grade, other persons in strong grade.
-LA / LÄ
| 1. infinitive | 1. person sing. | 3. person sing. | imperfect |
| tulla | tulen | tulee | tulin |
| ajatella | ajattelen | ajattelee | ajattelin |
-NA / NÄ
| 1. infinitive | 1. person sing. | 3. person sing. | imperfect |
| panna | panen | panee | panin |
| mennä | menen | menee | menin |
-RA / RÄ
| 1. infinitive | 1. person sing. | 3. person sing. | imperfect |
| purra | puren | puree | purin |
| surra | suren | suree | surin |
-(S)TA / (S)TÄ
| nousta | nousen | nousee | nousin |
| juosta | juoksen | juoksee | juoksin |
Verb type 4
-(V)TA/TÄ
(V means any vowel)
This type ends with any vowel + ta/tä. You get the stem by removing the ta/tä and adding an extra a/ä. If there's consonant gradation, the infinitive is in weak, and all the persons in strong grade.
| 1. infinitive | 1. person sing. | 3. person sing. | imperfect |
| avata | avaan | avaa | avasin |
| erota | eroan | eroaa | erosin |
| vastata | vastaan | vastaa | vastasin |
Verb type 5
-ITA/ITÄ
| 1. infinitive | 1. person sing. | 3. person sing. | imperfect |
| tarvita | tarvitsen | tarvitsee | tarvitsin |
| merkitä | merkitsen | merkitsee | merkitsin |
| valita | valitsen | valitsee | valitsin |
You get the stem by removing the ta/tä and adding -tse. There's never a consonant gradation in this type.
Verb type 6
-ETA/ETÄ
You get the stem by removing the ta/tä and adding -ne.
| 1. infinitive | 1. person sing. | 3. person sing. | imperfect |
| kylmetä | kylmenen | kylmenee | kylmenin |
| paeta | pakenen | pakenee | pakenin |
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