Language/Finnish/Grammar/Finnish-Participles

Finnish → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Finnish Participles

Welcome to our lesson on Finnish participles! As we delve into this fascinating aspect of Finnish grammar, you'll discover how participles can add depth and complexity to your sentences, making your communication more expressive. Participles are versatile; they can act as adjectives, nouns, or parts of verbs. Understanding participles will not only enhance your grammar skills but also enrich your vocabulary and overall fluency in Finnish.

In this lesson, we will cover:

• The definition and importance of participles in Finnish.

• The different types of participles: present and past.

• How to form participles from verbs.

• Examples to illustrate their usage in sentences.

• Practical exercises to reinforce your understanding.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to identify and use Finnish participles confidently in your conversations and writing. Let's get started!

What are Participles?

Participles are verb forms that can function in various ways in a sentence. They essentially bridge the gap between verbs and adjectives, allowing you to express actions in different contexts.

• Present Participles indicate an ongoing action and can describe a subject performing an action.

• Past Participles often express a completed action and can describe a subject that has undergone an action.

The Importance of Participles in Finnish

Participles are crucial in Finnish for several reasons:

• They enhance sentence structure and complexity.

• They allow for more nuanced expression.

• They are essential for forming compound tenses and passive voice.

Forming Finnish Participles

Let's dive into how to form both present and past participles from verbs.

Present Participles

Present participles in Finnish are formed by taking the verb stem and adding specific endings. For most verbs, the present participle is formed by adding "-va" or "-vä" to the stem.

Here is a general rule:

• For verbs ending in a vowel, add "-va" or "-vä" based on vowel harmony.

• For verbs ending in a consonant, the rules may vary slightly.

Past Participles

Past participles are formed differently. Generally, you take the verb stem and add the endings "-nut" or "-nyt" for the basic forms.

Here is how it typically works:

• For verbs ending in a vowel, add "-nut" (if the stem ends in a vowel) or "-nyt" (if the stem ends in a consonant).

Examples of Finnish Participles

To clarify the concepts, let's look at some examples of present and past participles.

Present Participles Examples

Finnish	Pronunciation	English
lukevat	ˈlukɛʋɑt	reading (they)
laulava	ˈlɑulɑʋɑ	singing
opiskellessani	ˈopiskelːɛsˌsɑni	while studying
juoksevat	ˈjuo̞kseʋɑt	running (they)
pelaava	ˈpeːlɑʋɑ	playing

Past Participles Examples

Finnish	Pronunciation	English
lukenut	ˈlukɛnut	(has) read
laulanut	ˈlɑulɑnut	(has) sung
opiskellut	ˈopiskelːut	(has) studied
juossut	ˈjuo̞ssut	(has) run
pelannut	ˈpeːlɑnut	(has) played

Using Participles in Sentences

Now that you have a grasp of how to form participles, let's look at how they can be used in sentences.

Present Participles in Context

1. Lukevat lapset ovat iloisia.

(The reading children are happy.)

2. Laulava tyttö on lahjakas.

(The singing girl is talented.)

3. Opiskellessani kuuntelen musiikkia.

(While studying, I listen to music.)

4. Juoksevat koirat ovat nopeita.

(The running dogs are fast.)

5. Pelaava poika voitti kilpailun.

(The playing boy won the competition.)

Past Participles in Context

1. Olen lukenut kirjan.

(I have read the book.)

2. Hän on laulanut kauniisti.

(He/She has sung beautifully.)

3. Olemme opiskelleet suomea.

(We have studied Finnish.)

4. He ovat juosseet paljon.

(They have run a lot.)

5. Olet pelannut hyvin.

(You have played well.)

Exercises and Practice Scenarios

Now it's time to put your knowledge to the test! Below are exercises designed to help you practice forming and using participles.

Exercise 1: Form the Present Participle

Transform the following verbs into their present participle forms:

1. lukea (to read)

2. laulaa (to sing)

3. opiskella (to study)

4. juosta (to run)

5. pelata (to play)

Solutions:

1. lukevat

2. laulava

3. opiskellessani

4. juoksevat

5. pelaava

Exercise 2: Form the Past Participle

Transform the following verbs into their past participle forms:

1. lukea (to read)

2. laulaa (to sing)

3. opiskella (to study)

4. juosta (to run)

5. pelata (to play)

Solutions:

1. lukenut

2. laulanut

3. opiskellut

4. juossut

5. pelannut

Exercise 3: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the following sentences with the correct participle form:

1. Hän on __________ (laulaa).

2. __________ (opiskella) lapset ovat fiksuja.

3. Olin __________ (juosta) nopeasti.

4. __________ (pelaa) poika on mestari.

5. Me olemme __________ (lukea) monia kirjoja.

Solutions:

1. laulanut

2. Opiskelevat

3. juossut

4. Pelaava

5. lukeneet

Exercise 4: Translate to Finnish

Translate the following sentences into Finnish using the correct participle form:

1. The reading girl is happy.

2. I have sung beautifully.

3. They are studying Finnish.

4. The running dogs are fast.

5. We have played well.

Solutions:

1. Lukevat tyttö on iloinen.

2. Olen laulanut kauniisti.

3. He opiskelevat suomea.

4. Juoksevat koirat ovat nopeita.

5. Olemme pelanneet hyvin.

Exercise 5: Create Your Sentences

Write sentences using the following participles:

1. pelaava

2. laulava

3. juokseva

4. opiskellut

5. lukenut

Example Solutions:

1. Pelaava lapsi on iloinen. (The playing child is happy.)

2. Laulava nainen on kaunis. (The singing woman is beautiful.)

3. Juokseva koira on nopea. (The running dog is fast.)

4. Olen opiskellut suomea jo vuoden. (I have studied Finnish for a year.)

5. Lukenut kirja on mielenkiintoinen. (The read book is interesting.)

Conclusion

Participles are a fundamental part of Finnish grammar that allow for greater expression and detail in your sentences. By mastering the present and past participles, you're taking significant steps toward fluency. Remember to practice regularly, and don't hesitate to create your own sentences to solidify your understanding.

Learning a new language is a journey, and each lesson builds on the last. Keep up the good work, and I'll see you in the next lesson!

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

  ---

Finnish Culture and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Finnish Sauna

  ---

Weather and Seasons

• Weather Vocabulary
• Seasons

  ---

Conjunctions and Subordinate Clauses

• Conjunctions
• Subordinate Clauses

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Finnish Literature and Music

• Finnish Literature
• Finnish Music

Sources

• The 5 Finnish Participles - Overview - Uusi kielemme
• Partisiipit / The Participles - The Finnish Teacher
• Want to learn advanced Finnish grammar? Learn the participle
• Finnish verb conjugation - Wikipedia

Other Lessons

• Adjectives
• Asking Directions in Finnish
• Finnish Verb Tenses
• Conditional Mood
• Negation
• Basic Finnish Phonetics
• The Finnish Alphabet
• Conditional Tense
• How to Use Have
• Present Tense