Understanding Adjective Agreement and Usage in Finnish

The Basics of Adjective Agreement in Finnish

In Finnish, adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in terms of number, case, and sometimes gender. This is similar to agreement rules in many other languages, though the specific rules can be unique to Finnish.

Number Agreement

Finnish adjectives change form depending on whether they are describing a singular or plural noun. For example:

Case Agreement

Like nouns, adjectives in Finnish are inflected to reflect the case of the noun they modify. Here are some examples of adjectives in various cases:

• Nominative: iso talo (big house)
• Genitive: ison talon (of the big house)
• Partitive: isoa taloa (big house, partitive)

Adjective Usage with Nouns

Adjectives are placed before the nouns they describe. When an adjective is used with a noun, it follows the noun's case ending. For example:

Adjective and Noun Agreement

It's important to match the adjective correctly to the noun it is describing. Consider whether your adjective is describing something singular or plural and adjust accordingly. Remember to use the correct order: adjective first, then noun.

Common Mistakes and Tips

As you practice, try to pay close attention to the endings of both nouns and adjectives. Native English speakers often make mistakes by forgetting to adjust adjective endings based on the noun's case or number.