Language/Finnish/Grammar/Finnish-Verb-Tenses

Finnish → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Intermediate Finnish → Finnish Verb Tenses

Introduction

Welcome back, Finnish language learners! In this lesson, we will delve into the fascinating world of Finnish verb tenses. Building upon our previous lessons on present and past tenses, we will explore other verb tenses that are essential for developing fluency in Finnish. By understanding and mastering these verb tenses, you will be able to express yourself more accurately and confidently in various situations.

Throughout this lesson, we will provide clear explanations, numerous examples, and engaging exercises to help you grasp the intricacies of Finnish verb tenses. We will also touch upon regional variations and cultural nuances that shape the usage of verb tenses in different parts of Finland. So, let's get started and unlock the power of Finnish verb tenses!

The Conditional Tense

The conditional tense in Finnish is used to express hypothetical or unreal situations. It is formed by adding the suffix "-isi-" to the verb stem, followed by the personal endings. Let's take a look at some examples:

Finnish	Pronunciation	English
Minä puhuisin	min-ah poo-hee-sin	I would speak
Sinä puhuisit	see-nah poo-hee-sit	You would speak
Hän puhuisi	hahn poo-hee-see	He/she would speak
Me puhuisimme	meh poo-hee-see-meh	We would speak
Te puhuisitte	teh poo-hee-see-teh	You (plural) would speak
He puhuisivat	heh poo-hee-see-vaht	They would speak

In the conditional tense, notice how the verb stem remains unchanged, while the suffix "-isi-" is added before the personal endings. This tense allows us to express possibilities, wishes, or hypothetical scenarios. For example:

• Jos minulla olisi paljon rahaa, matkustaisin ympäri maailmaa. (If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.)

Here, the conditional tense helps us convey the idea of an unreal or hypothetical situation, where the speaker imagines having a lot of money and the possibility of traveling.

The Imperative Tense

The imperative tense in Finnish is used to give commands or make requests. It is formed differently depending on whether the verb is in the affirmative or the negative form.

Affirmative Imperative

To form the affirmative imperative in Finnish, we generally use the verb stem alone. Let's look at some examples:

Finnish	Pronunciation	English
Puhu!	poo-hoo	Speak!
Kirjoita!	keer-yoi-ta	Write!
Avaa ikkuna!	ah-vah ee-koo-nah	Open the window!
Soita hänelle!	soy-tah hah-nehl-leh	Call him/her!
Tulkaa sisään!	tool-kah see-saah-n	Come in!
Tehkää läksyt!	teh-kah lahksuht	Do your homework!

As you can see, the affirmative imperative is relatively straightforward. We simply use the verb stem without any additional suffixes or personal endings. However, it is important to note that some verbs may have irregular imperative forms, so it's always a good idea to consult a reliable Finnish grammar resource.

Negative Imperative

The negative imperative in Finnish is formed by adding the verb stem to the word "älä" (meaning "don't" or "do not") and the infinitive of the verb. Let's take a look at some examples:

Finnish	Pronunciation	English
Älä puhu!	ah-lah poo-hoo	Don't speak!
Älä kirjoita!	ah-lah keer-yoi-ta	Don't write!
Älä avaa ikkunaa!	ah-lah ah-vah ee-koo-naah	Don't open the window!
Älä soita hänelle!	ah-lah soy-tah hah-nehl-leh	Don't call him/her!
Älkää tulko sisään!	ah-lkah tool-koh see-saah-n	Don't come in!
Älkää tehkö läksyjä!	ah-lkah teh-koh lahksy-yah	Don't do your homework!

In the negative imperative, notice how we use the word "älä" before the verb stem and the infinitive of the verb. This construction helps us convey a prohibition or a negative command.

Cultural Insights

In different parts of Finland, there may be slight variations in the usage or understanding of verb tenses. For example, in the region of Ostrobothnia, the conditional tense is sometimes used in place of the imperative tense in spoken language. This is known as the "Ostrobothnian imperative."

Historically, the Ostrobothnian imperative emerged as a way to soften commands and make them sound more polite. Instead of using the imperative form, speakers would opt for the conditional form to convey requests or instructions. This linguistic feature reflects the cultural values of the region, where politeness and indirectness are highly valued.

An interesting cultural fact about Finnish is the concept of "sisu." Sisu is a unique Finnish characteristic that can be loosely translated as determination, resilience, and perseverance. It is often associated with the Finnish national identity and has deep cultural roots. Finnish verb tenses, including the conditional and imperative, can help us express the spirit of sisu in our language usage.

Practice Exercises

Now it's time to put your knowledge of Finnish verb tenses into practice! Complete the following exercises and check your answers below:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate verb tense (conditional or imperative).

1. Jos sinä (puhua) sujuvasti suomea, voisit työskennellä Suomessa. 2. (Tulla) tänne, meillä on jotain tärkeää kerrottavaa! 3. Älä (unohtaa) ottaa avaimia mukaan. 4. Jos minä (osata) soittaa pianoa, esiintyisin konsertissa. 5. (Olla) hiljaa! Keskitytään opiskeluun.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the following sentences using the Ostrobothnian imperative.

1. Puhu hiljaa. 2. Pidä huolta itsestäsi. 3. Älä avaa sitä pakettia.

Exercise 3: Translate the following sentences into Finnish.

1. I would love to visit Finland someday. 2. Don't forget to call your grandparents. 3. If you had more time, what would you do?

Exercise Solutions

Exercise 1: 1. Jos sinä puhuisit sujuvasti suomea, voisit työskennellä Suomessa. 2. Tulkaa tänne, meillä on jotain tärkeää kerrottavaa! 3. Älä unohda ottaa avaimia mukaan. 4. Jos minä osaisin soittaa pianoa, esiintyisin konsertissa. 5. Ole hiljaa! Keskitytään opiskeluun.

Exercise 2: 1. Jos puhuisit hiljaa. 2. Jos pitäisit huolta itsestäsi. 3. Älä avaisi sitä pakettia.

Exercise 3: 1. Haluaisin joskus käydä Suomessa. 2. Älä unohda soittaa isovanhemmillesi. 3. Jos sinulla olisi enemmän aikaa, mitä tekisit?

Congratulations on completing the exercises! You're making great progress in your Finnish language journey.

Table of Contents - Finnish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Finnish

• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Adjectives

• Noun Cases
• Adjective Agreement

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-20
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Daily Activities

• Daily Routine
• Hobbies and Leisure

  ---

Questions and Negation

• Forming Questions
• Negation

  ---

Food and Dining

• Food Vocabulary
• Dining Out

  ---

Prepositions and Postpositions

• Prepositions
• Postpositions

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Phrases

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Finnish Culture and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Finnish Sauna

  ---

Weather and Seasons

• Weather Vocabulary
• Seasons

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Conjunctions and Subordinate Clauses

• Conjunctions
• Subordinate Clauses

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Finnish Literature and Music

• Finnish Literature
• Finnish Music

Sources

• Finnish verb conjugation - Wikipedia
• Finnish Grammar Beginner's Guide (even if you hate grammar)
• Finnish Tenses: Expressing the Past, Present, and Future
• Finnish grammar - Wikipedia

Other Lessons

• Finnish Participles
• How to Use Be
• Possessive Case in Finnish
• Asking Directions in Finnish
• Finnish Verbs: Present Tense
• Prepositions
• Negation
• Questions
• Nouns
• Finnish Sentence Structure