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<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Finnish|Finnish]]  → [[Language/Finnish/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Finnish/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Adjective Agreement</div>
Welcome to our lesson on '''Adjective Agreement'''! Understanding adjective agreement is crucial for anyone looking to master the Finnish language. In Finnish, adjectives must agree with nouns in both '''case''' and '''number'''. This might sound a bit daunting at first, but with practice, you'll find it becomes second nature.
In this lesson, we will explore the following topics:
* The concept of adjective agreement


<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Finnish|Finnish]]  → [[Language/Finnish/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Finnish/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Nouns and Adjectives → Adjective Agreement</div>
* How adjectives change based on the noun's case
 
* How adjectives agree in number (singular vs. plural)
 
* A multitude of examples to cement your understanding
 
* Exercises to practice what you've learned
 
So, let's dive into the fascinating world of Finnish adjectives!


__TOC__
__TOC__


As a Finnish language teacher for over twenty years, I have seen many students struggle with adjective agreement in Finnish. However, with the right knowledge and practice, this grammar concept can become a lot easier. In this lesson, we will cover the basics of how adjectives agree with nouns in Finnish, including case and number agreement.
=== The Concept of Adjective Agreement ===
 
In Finnish, adjectives serve to describe nouns, much like in English. However, the key difference is that Finnish adjectives must match the noun they describe in '''case''' (the grammatical function of the noun in a sentence) and '''number''' (singular or plural).
 
This means that if you have a noun in a specific case, the adjective used to describe that noun must also be in the same case. Similarly, if the noun is plural, the adjective must be plural as well.
 
For example:
 
* '''Beautiful house''' in Finnish is '''kaunis talo''' (where "kaunis" is the adjective and "talo" is the noun).
 
* If we change it to '''beautiful houses''', we say '''kauniit talot''', where "kauniit" agrees with the plural noun "talot".
 
=== How Adjectives Change with Case ===
 
Finnish has several cases, but for the sake of this lesson, we will focus on the '''nominative case''' (the basic form) and the '''partitive case''' (used for partial objects).
 
Here is a breakdown of how adjectives change in these cases:
 
==== Nominative Case ====
 
In the nominative case, the adjective is in its base form.
 
For example:
 
* '''Good book''': '''hyvä kirja'''
 
==== Partitive Case ====
 
In the partitive case, the adjective will often change.  
 
For example:
 
* '''Good book''': '''hyvää kirjaa'''
 
Let's look at some more examples in a clear table format:
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Finnish !! Pronunciation !! English
 
|-
 
| hyvä talo  || hy-vä ta-lo || good house
 
|-
 
| hyvää taloa  || hy-vää ta-lo-a || good house (partitive)
 
|-
 
| kaunis kukka  || kau-nis kuk-ka || beautiful flower
 
|-
 
| kauniita kukkia || kau-ni-i-ta kuk-kia || beautiful flowers (partitive)
 
|}
 
=== How Adjectives Agree in Number ===


Adjectives in Finnish change form depending on whether the noun they describe is singular or plural.


<span link>After mastering this lesson, these related pages might interest you: [[Language/Finnish/Grammar/Adjectives|Adjectives]] & [[Language/Finnish/Grammar/Sentence-Structure|Sentence Structure]].</span>
Generally:
== What is Adjective Agreement? ==


When using adjectives in Finnish, it is important to pay attention to the gender, case and number of the noun they are describing. Adjectives must agree with the noun in these aspects.
* '''Singular''' adjectives end with an -a or -ä.


For instance, let's take the word "kaunis," which means "beautiful." In Finnish, depending on the gender, case, and number of the noun it describes, the ending of "kaunis" can change. Let's take a closer look at how this would work in practice:
* '''Plural''' adjectives often end with -t.


* If the noun is in the nominative case, the ending will be "-a" for singular feminine nouns, "-i" for masculine or neuter singular nouns, and "-at" for plural nouns. For example:
Let's look at a few more examples:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! Pronunciation !! English
! Finnish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| Kaunis tanssija || 'kɑu-nis tɑns-si-jɑ || Beautiful dancer (singular feminine)
 
| pieni kissa  || pie-ni kis-sa || small cat
 
|-
|-
| Kaunis auto || 'kɑu-nis 'ɑu-to || Beautiful car (singular masculine)
 
| pienet kissat  || pie-net kis-sat || small cats
 
|-
|-
| Kauniit kukat || 'kɑu-niit 'ku-kɑt || Beautiful flowers (plural)
 
| sininen auto  || si-ni-nen au-to || blue car
 
|-
 
| siniset autot  || si-ni-set au-tot || blue cars
 
|}
|}


* If the noun is in the genitive case or inessive case, the endings will be "-an" and "-assa," respectively, for singular feminine nouns, "-in" and "-ssa," respectively, for singular masculine or neuter nouns, and "-iden" or "-issa," respectively, for plural nouns. For example:
=== Combining Case and Number Agreement ===
 
Now, let’s see how adjectives adapt when we combine both case and number. This is where it can get a bit tricky, but don't worry—this is why we're here!
 
For instance, if we take the adjective '''iso''' (big):
 
* '''Big house''' in the nominative: '''iso talo'''
 
* '''Big houses''' in the nominative: '''isot talot'''
 
* '''Big house''' in the partitive: '''isoa taloa'''
 
* '''Big houses''' in the partitive: '''isoja taloja'''
 
Here's another example table for clarity:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! Pronunciation !! English
! Finnish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| Kauniin tanssijan || 'kɑu-niin 'tans-si-jɑn || Beautiful dancer's (genitive singular feminine)
 
| iso talo  || i-so ta-lo || big house
 
|-
 
| isot talot  || i-sot ta-lot || big houses
 
|-
|-
| Kauniissa autossa || 'kɑu-niis-sɑ 'ɑu-tos-sɑ || In a beautiful car (inessive singular masculine)
 
| isoa taloa  || i-so-a ta-lo-a || big house (partitive)
 
|-
|-
| Kauniiden kukkien || 'kɑu-nii-den 'kuk-ki-en || Beautiful flowers' (genitive plural)
 
| isoja taloja  || i-so-ja ta-lo-ja || big houses (partitive)
 
|}
|}


== Examples ==
=== Common Adjective Endings ===


Here are some additional examples to help you understand how adjective agreement works in Finnish:
Here are some common endings for Finnish adjectives that can help you identify how they might change:


* Kaunis nainen (Beautiful woman)
* '''-a / -ä''': Often used in singular nominative.
* Kaunis mies (Beautiful man)
* Kaunis lapsi (Beautiful child)
* Kauniit linnut (Beautiful birds)
* Kauniissa talossa (In a beautiful house)


== Tips for Remembering Adjective Agreement ==
* '''-t''': Indicates plural nominative.


Adjective agreement can be challenging for beginners to learn, so here are some tips to keep in mind:
* '''-aa / -ää''': Used in singular partitive.


* Practice, practice, practice! The more exposure you have to the concept of adjective agreement and the more you practice it, the easier it will become.
* '''-ia / -iä''': Used in plural partitive.


* Always pay attention to the gender, case, and number of the noun you are describing. This will help you choose the correct ending for the adjective.
=== Examples of Adjective Agreement in Different Contexts ===


* Form sentences in your head or practice writing them out. It takes time and repetition to master adjective agreement.
Let's explore 20 examples showcasing how adjectives agree with nouns in both case and number:


== Conclusion ==
1. '''kaunis nainen''' (beautiful woman) → '''kauniit naiset''' (beautiful women)


In conclusion, adjective agreement is an important aspect of Finnish grammar, and it is essential for learners to understand its basic rules. Remember that adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in gender, case, and number, and with practice, you will become more confident in using this concept correctly. Keep these tips in mind, and you will be on your way to using Finnish adjectives accurately and fluently!
2. '''kallis auto''' (expensive car) → '''kalliit autot''' (expensive cars)


3. '''nopea koira''' (fast dog) → '''nopeat koirat''' (fast dogs)
4. '''vanha kirja''' (old book) → '''vanhat kirjat''' (old books)
5. '''mukava kaveri''' (nice friend) → '''mukavat kaverit''' (nice friends)
6. '''tyhjä pullo''' (empty bottle) → '''tyhjät pullot''' (empty bottles)
7. '''pieni lapsi''' (small child) → '''pienet lapset''' (small children)
8. '''uusi puhelin''' (new phone) → '''uudet puhelimet''' (new phones)
9. '''vaalea leipä''' (light bread) → '''vaaleat leivät''' (light breads)
10. '''kova ääni''' (loud sound) → '''kovat äänet''' (loud sounds)
11. '''kylmä juoma''' (cold drink) → '''kylmät juomat''' (cold drinks)
12. '''puhdas huone''' (clean room) → '''puhtaat huoneet''' (clean rooms)
13. '''tummat silmät''' (dark eyes) → '''tummat silmät''' (dark eyes, same for plural)
14. '''kaunis maisema''' (beautiful landscape) → '''kauniit maisemat''' (beautiful landscapes)
15. '''hiljainen katu''' (quiet street) → '''hiljaiset kadut''' (quiet streets)
16. '''kirkas taivas''' (clear sky) → '''kirkkaat taivaat''' (clear skies)
17. '''makea kakku''' (sweet cake) → '''makeat kakut''' (sweet cakes)
18. '''kuuma tee''' (hot tea) → '''kuumat teet''' (hot teas)
19. '''pehmeä tyyny''' (soft pillow) → '''pehmeät tyynyt''' (soft pillows)
20. '''vahva mies''' (strong man) → '''vahvat miehet''' (strong men)
=== Practice Exercises ===
Now that we have covered the concept of adjective agreement thoroughly, it's time to put your knowledge to the test! Below are 10 exercises designed to help you practice what you've learned.
For each exercise, fill in the blank with the correct form of the adjective in parentheses based on the noun provided.
==== Exercise 1 ====
1. '''(iso)''' talo → ____________
2. '''(iso)''' talot → ____________
==== Exercise 2 ====
3. '''(kaunis)''' nainen → ____________
4. '''(kaunis)''' naiset → ____________
==== Exercise 3 ====
5. '''(pieni)''' lapsi → ____________
6. '''(pieni)''' lapset → ____________
==== Exercise 4 ====
7. '''(uusi)''' auto → ____________
8. '''(uusi)''' autot → ____________
==== Exercise 5 ====
9. '''(kova)''' ääni → ____________
10. '''(kova)''' äänet → ____________
==== Exercise 6 ====
11. '''(kallis)''' kirja → ____________
12. '''(kallis)''' kirjat → ____________
==== Exercise 7 ====
13. '''(hiljainen)''' katu → ____________
14. '''(hiljainen)''' kadut → ____________
==== Exercise 8 ====
15. '''(mukava)''' ystävä → ____________
16. '''(mukava)''' ystävät → ____________
==== Exercise 9 ====
17. '''(vaalea)''' leipä → ____________
18. '''(vaalea)''' leivät → ____________
==== Exercise 10 ====
19. '''(makea)''' kakku → ____________
20. '''(makea)''' kakut → ____________
=== Solutions and Explanations ===
Now, let's check your answers and see how well you've grasped the concept of adjective agreement.
==== Exercise 1 Solutions ====
1. iso talo (big house)
2. isot talot (big houses)
==== Exercise 2 Solutions ====
3. kaunis nainen (beautiful woman)
4. kauniit naiset (beautiful women)
==== Exercise 3 Solutions ====
5. pieni lapsi (small child)
6. pienet lapset (small children)
==== Exercise 4 Solutions ====
7. uusi auto (new car)
8. uudet autot (new cars)
==== Exercise 5 Solutions ====
9. kova ääni (loud sound)
10. kovat äänet (loud sounds)
==== Exercise 6 Solutions ====
11. kallis kirja (expensive book)
12. kalliit kirjat (expensive books)
==== Exercise 7 Solutions ====
13. hiljainen katu (quiet street)
14. hiljaiset kadut (quiet streets)
==== Exercise 8 Solutions ====
15. mukava ystävä (nice friend)
16. mukavat ystävät (nice friends)
==== Exercise 9 Solutions ====
17. vaalea leipä (light bread)
18. vaaleat leivät (light breads)
==== Exercise 10 Solutions ====
19. makea kakku (sweet cake)
20. makeat kakut (sweet cakes)
Congratulations on completing this lesson on adjective agreement! Remember, practice is key in mastering these concepts. The more you work with adjectives, the more comfortable you'll become.


<span link>Congratulations on finishing this lesson! Explore these related pages to keep learning: [[Language/Finnish/Grammar/Give-your-Opinion|Give your Opinion]] & [[Language/Finnish/Grammar/Finnish-Participles|Finnish Participles]].</span>
{{#seo:
{{#seo:
|title=Finnish Grammar → Nouns and Adjectives → Adjective Agreement
 
|keywords=Finnish, Grammar, Nouns, Adjectives, Adjective Agreement, Case, Number Agreement
|title=Finnish Grammar: Understanding Adjective Agreement
|description=In this lesson, you will learn about how adjectives agree with nouns in Finnish, including case and number agreement. Practice these tips and you will be on your way to using Finnish adjectives accurately and fluently!
 
|keywords=finnish grammar, adjective agreement, language learning, Finnish language, beginner Finnish
 
|description=In this lesson, you will learn how adjectives agree with nouns in Finnish, including case and number agreement, with examples and exercises.
 
}}
}}


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==Sources==
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_grammar Finnish grammar - Wikipedia]
* [https://finland.fi/life-society/the-unbearable-beauty-of-finnish-grammar/ The unbearable beauty of Finnish grammar - thisisFINLAND]
 
 


==Other Lessons==
==Other Lessons==
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* [[Language/Finnish/Grammar/Past-Tense|Past Tense]]
* [[Language/Finnish/Grammar/Past-Tense|Past Tense]]


<span class='maj'></span>
 
==Sources==
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_grammar Finnish grammar - Wikipedia]
* [https://finland.fi/life-society/the-unbearable-beauty-of-finnish-grammar/ The unbearable beauty of Finnish grammar - thisisFINLAND]


{{Finnish-Page-Bottom}}
{{Finnish-Page-Bottom}}
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Latest revision as of 00:47, 2 August 2024

◀️ Noun Cases — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Numbers 1-20 ▶️

Finnish-Language-PolyglotClub.png
Finnish → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Adjective Agreement

Welcome to our lesson on Adjective Agreement! Understanding adjective agreement is crucial for anyone looking to master the Finnish language. In Finnish, adjectives must agree with nouns in both case and number. This might sound a bit daunting at first, but with practice, you'll find it becomes second nature.

In this lesson, we will explore the following topics:

  • The concept of adjective agreement
  • How adjectives change based on the noun's case
  • How adjectives agree in number (singular vs. plural)
  • A multitude of examples to cement your understanding
  • Exercises to practice what you've learned

So, let's dive into the fascinating world of Finnish adjectives!

The Concept of Adjective Agreement[edit | edit source]

In Finnish, adjectives serve to describe nouns, much like in English. However, the key difference is that Finnish adjectives must match the noun they describe in case (the grammatical function of the noun in a sentence) and number (singular or plural).

This means that if you have a noun in a specific case, the adjective used to describe that noun must also be in the same case. Similarly, if the noun is plural, the adjective must be plural as well.

For example:

  • Beautiful house in Finnish is kaunis talo (where "kaunis" is the adjective and "talo" is the noun).
  • If we change it to beautiful houses, we say kauniit talot, where "kauniit" agrees with the plural noun "talot".

How Adjectives Change with Case[edit | edit source]

Finnish has several cases, but for the sake of this lesson, we will focus on the nominative case (the basic form) and the partitive case (used for partial objects).

Here is a breakdown of how adjectives change in these cases:

Nominative Case[edit | edit source]

In the nominative case, the adjective is in its base form.

For example:

  • Good book: hyvä kirja

Partitive Case[edit | edit source]

In the partitive case, the adjective will often change.

For example:

  • Good book: hyvää kirjaa

Let's look at some more examples in a clear table format:

Finnish Pronunciation English
hyvä talo hy-vä ta-lo good house
hyvää taloa hy-vää ta-lo-a good house (partitive)
kaunis kukka kau-nis kuk-ka beautiful flower
kauniita kukkia kau-ni-i-ta kuk-kia beautiful flowers (partitive)

How Adjectives Agree in Number[edit | edit source]

Adjectives in Finnish change form depending on whether the noun they describe is singular or plural.

Generally:

  • Singular adjectives end with an -a or -ä.
  • Plural adjectives often end with -t.

Let's look at a few more examples:

Finnish Pronunciation English
pieni kissa pie-ni kis-sa small cat
pienet kissat pie-net kis-sat small cats
sininen auto si-ni-nen au-to blue car
siniset autot si-ni-set au-tot blue cars

Combining Case and Number Agreement[edit | edit source]

Now, let’s see how adjectives adapt when we combine both case and number. This is where it can get a bit tricky, but don't worry—this is why we're here!

For instance, if we take the adjective iso (big):

  • Big house in the nominative: iso talo
  • Big houses in the nominative: isot talot
  • Big house in the partitive: isoa taloa
  • Big houses in the partitive: isoja taloja

Here's another example table for clarity:

Finnish Pronunciation English
iso talo i-so ta-lo big house
isot talot i-sot ta-lot big houses
isoa taloa i-so-a ta-lo-a big house (partitive)
isoja taloja i-so-ja ta-lo-ja big houses (partitive)

Common Adjective Endings[edit | edit source]

Here are some common endings for Finnish adjectives that can help you identify how they might change:

  • -a / -ä: Often used in singular nominative.
  • -t: Indicates plural nominative.
  • -aa / -ää: Used in singular partitive.
  • -ia / -iä: Used in plural partitive.

Examples of Adjective Agreement in Different Contexts[edit | edit source]

Let's explore 20 examples showcasing how adjectives agree with nouns in both case and number:

1. kaunis nainen (beautiful woman) → kauniit naiset (beautiful women)

2. kallis auto (expensive car) → kalliit autot (expensive cars)

3. nopea koira (fast dog) → nopeat koirat (fast dogs)

4. vanha kirja (old book) → vanhat kirjat (old books)

5. mukava kaveri (nice friend) → mukavat kaverit (nice friends)

6. tyhjä pullo (empty bottle) → tyhjät pullot (empty bottles)

7. pieni lapsi (small child) → pienet lapset (small children)

8. uusi puhelin (new phone) → uudet puhelimet (new phones)

9. vaalea leipä (light bread) → vaaleat leivät (light breads)

10. kova ääni (loud sound) → kovat äänet (loud sounds)

11. kylmä juoma (cold drink) → kylmät juomat (cold drinks)

12. puhdas huone (clean room) → puhtaat huoneet (clean rooms)

13. tummat silmät (dark eyes) → tummat silmät (dark eyes, same for plural)

14. kaunis maisema (beautiful landscape) → kauniit maisemat (beautiful landscapes)

15. hiljainen katu (quiet street) → hiljaiset kadut (quiet streets)

16. kirkas taivas (clear sky) → kirkkaat taivaat (clear skies)

17. makea kakku (sweet cake) → makeat kakut (sweet cakes)

18. kuuma tee (hot tea) → kuumat teet (hot teas)

19. pehmeä tyyny (soft pillow) → pehmeät tyynyt (soft pillows)

20. vahva mies (strong man) → vahvat miehet (strong men)

Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]

Now that we have covered the concept of adjective agreement thoroughly, it's time to put your knowledge to the test! Below are 10 exercises designed to help you practice what you've learned.

For each exercise, fill in the blank with the correct form of the adjective in parentheses based on the noun provided.

Exercise 1[edit | edit source]

1. (iso) talo → ____________

2. (iso) talot → ____________

Exercise 2[edit | edit source]

3. (kaunis) nainen → ____________

4. (kaunis) naiset → ____________

Exercise 3[edit | edit source]

5. (pieni) lapsi → ____________

6. (pieni) lapset → ____________

Exercise 4[edit | edit source]

7. (uusi) auto → ____________

8. (uusi) autot → ____________

Exercise 5[edit | edit source]

9. (kova) ääni → ____________

10. (kova) äänet → ____________

Exercise 6[edit | edit source]

11. (kallis) kirja → ____________

12. (kallis) kirjat → ____________

Exercise 7[edit | edit source]

13. (hiljainen) katu → ____________

14. (hiljainen) kadut → ____________

Exercise 8[edit | edit source]

15. (mukava) ystävä → ____________

16. (mukava) ystävät → ____________

Exercise 9[edit | edit source]

17. (vaalea) leipä → ____________

18. (vaalea) leivät → ____________

Exercise 10[edit | edit source]

19. (makea) kakku → ____________

20. (makea) kakut → ____________

Solutions and Explanations[edit | edit source]

Now, let's check your answers and see how well you've grasped the concept of adjective agreement.

Exercise 1 Solutions[edit | edit source]

1. iso talo (big house)

2. isot talot (big houses)

Exercise 2 Solutions[edit | edit source]

3. kaunis nainen (beautiful woman)

4. kauniit naiset (beautiful women)

Exercise 3 Solutions[edit | edit source]

5. pieni lapsi (small child)

6. pienet lapset (small children)

Exercise 4 Solutions[edit | edit source]

7. uusi auto (new car)

8. uudet autot (new cars)

Exercise 5 Solutions[edit | edit source]

9. kova ääni (loud sound)

10. kovat äänet (loud sounds)

Exercise 6 Solutions[edit | edit source]

11. kallis kirja (expensive book)

12. kalliit kirjat (expensive books)

Exercise 7 Solutions[edit | edit source]

13. hiljainen katu (quiet street)

14. hiljaiset kadut (quiet streets)

Exercise 8 Solutions[edit | edit source]

15. mukava ystävä (nice friend)

16. mukavat ystävät (nice friends)

Exercise 9 Solutions[edit | edit source]

17. vaalea leipä (light bread)

18. vaaleat leivät (light breads)

Exercise 10 Solutions[edit | edit source]

19. makea kakku (sweet cake)

20. makeat kakut (sweet cakes)

Congratulations on completing this lesson on adjective agreement! Remember, practice is key in mastering these concepts. The more you work with adjectives, the more comfortable you'll become.

Table of Contents - Finnish Course - 0 to A1[edit source]


Introduction to Finnish


Greetings and Introductions


Nouns and Adjectives


Numbers and Time


Verbs and Tenses


Daily Activities


Questions and Negation


Food and Dining


Prepositions and Postpositions


Travel and Transportation


Finnish Culture and Traditions


Weather and Seasons


Conjunctions and Subordinate Clauses


Family and Relationships


Finnish Literature and Music

Sources[edit | edit source]


Other Lessons[edit | edit source]



◀️ Noun Cases — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Numbers 1-20 ▶️

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