Partitive plural
Basic rules
- Plural is marked by i.
- Plural i becomes j between two vowels.
- Partitive endings are -a or ta, like in singular.
- Partitive plural is always in strong grade.
When the ending is -a?
The partitive ending is -a, when the root ends with a single vowel. You get the root from genitive by removing the last n.
| katto | -> katon | -> kattoja |
| katu | -> kadun | -> katuja |
Exeptions:
You drop the last e or i:
| nainen | -> naisen | -> naisia |
| kysymys | -> kysymyksen | -> kysymyksiä |
| vuosi | -> vuoden | -> vuosia |
| uusi | -> uusien | -> uusia |
When the ending is -ta?
The partitive ending is ta, when the root ends with 2 vowels. You drop the first vowel and add i + ta.
| maa | -> maan | -> maita |
| työ | -> työn | -> töitä |
| olut | -> oluen | -> oluita |
Exeptions:
There are some long words, which are exceptions.
Ending is -a
| opettaja | -> opettajia |
| kääntäjä | -> kääntäjiä |
| satama | -> satamia |
| työtön | -> työttömiä |
ending is -ta
| opiskelija | -> opiskelijoita |
| tarjoilija | -> tarjoilijoita |
| ikkuna | -> ikkunoita |
| ravintola | -> ravintoloita |
Some examples of words where both are possible:
| hotelli | -> hotelleja / hotelleita |
| seteli | -> setelejä / seteleitä |
| naapuri | -> naapureja / naapureita |
When to use plural partitive
The basic meaning of plural partitive is "indefinite amount of numerous things", for example: "Syön piirakoita" / "I'm eating some pies".
To express the object
Partitive, singular or plural, is used typically with the object of the sentence.
- Opiskelija lukee kirjaa.
- A student is reading a book.
- Opiskelijat lukevat kirjoja.
- Students are reading (some) books.
- Muista ostaa maitoa.
- Remember to buy (some) milk.
- Muista ostaa perunoita.
- Remember to buy (some) potatoes.
Also genitive ("n-object") is a possible case. See the difference between the different kinds of objects:
- N-object: Syön piirakan.
- I'm eating a pie.
- Singular partitive: Syön piirakkaa.
- I'm eating some pie.
- Plural partitive: Syön piirakoita.
- I'm eating some pies.
To express the subject in an existential sentence
Existential sentence can be used to express where things are (or are not) or possession (there is - sentence in English).
- Torilla on ihmisiä.
- There are (some) people on the market square.
- Kirjastossa on opiskelijoita.
- There are (some) students in the library.
More about the existential sentence.
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