PARTITIVE CASE

PARTITIVE CASEONE OF THE MOST WIDELY USED CASES IN FINNISH

HOW TO FORM IT?IF THE WORD ENDS IN A VOWEL (BUT NOT IN AN -I), JUST ADD A OR (DEPENDING ON THE VOWEL HARMONY):MAITO MAITOA (=MILK)LEIP LEIP (=BREAD)

HOW TO FORM IT?IF THE WORD ENDS IN A CONSONANT OR TWO VOWELS, ADD TA OR T (DEPENDING ON THE VOWEL HARMONY):

VOI VOITA (=BUTTER)Y YT (=NIGHT)OLUT OLUTTA (=BEER)

HOW TO FORM IT?IF THE WORD ENDS IN E OR SI, ADD TTA OR TT (DEPENDING ON THE VOWEL HARMONY):

HUONE (=ROOM) HUONETTAUUSI VUOSI (= NEW YEAR) UUTTA VUOTTA (TAKE THE SI OFF FIRST!)

HOW TO FORM IT?IF THE WORD ENDS IN NEN, TAKE THE NEN OFF AND ADD STA:

PSIINEN (=EASTER) PSIISTLASKIAINEN (=PRE-LENT FESTIVAL) LASKIAISTALOPPIAINEN (=EPIPHANY) LOPPIAISTA

WHEN IS IT USED?IN GREETINGS:

HYV JOULUA! (=MERRY CHRISTMAS)PALJON ONNEA! (=CONGRATULATIONS)HAUSKAA JUHANNUSTA! (=HAPPY MIDSUMMER)

WHEN IS IT USED?AS PLURAL WITH NUMBERS MORE THAN ONE:

2 KAHVIA (=2 COFFEES)3 OLUTTA (=3 BEERS)4 JTEL (=4 ICE CREAMS)

WHEN IS IT USED?WITH QUANTITATIVE PRONOUNS:MONTA KAHVIA = MANY COFFEESVHN KAHVIA = A LITTLE COFFEE PALJON KAHVIA = A LOT OF COFFEEPARI KAHVIA = A COUPLE OF COFFEES

WHEN IS IT USED?IN LISTS AND LABELS:

SHOPPING LISTSMILK CARTONSFOOD PACKAGESRESTAURANT MENUS

WHEN IS IT USED?WITH CERTAIN VERBS:

MIN PUHUN ENGLANTIA. (I SPEAK ENGLISH.)SIN SOITAT KITARAA. (YOU PLAY THE GUITAR.) HN RAKASTAA MATTIA. (SHE LOVES MATTI.)

WHEN IS IT USED?AS AN OBJECT IN A SENTENCE (when talking about a continuing process or something undefined):

MIN LUEN KIRJAA. (I READ A BOOK.)SIN OSTAT RUOKAA. (YOU BUY FOOD.)HN JUO OLUTTA. (HE DRINKS BEER.)

BUT: MIN OSTAN KIRJAN. = I BUY A (CERTAIN, PARTICULAR) BOOK.)

WHEN IS IT USED?IN NEGATIVE SENTENCES INDICATING NOT HAVING SOMETHING:

MINULLA EI OLE AUTOA. = I DONT HAVE A CAR.TALOSSA EI OLE HISSI. = THERES NO ELEVATOR IN THE HOUSE.LAURALLA EI OLE KISSAA. = LAURA DOES NOT HAVE A CAT.

BUT: MINULLA ON AUTO. = I HAVE A CAR.

WHEN IS IT USED?WHEN TALKING ABOUT WEATHER OR SUBSTANCES:ON AURINKOISTA/SATEISTA/TUULISTA/PAKKASTA. (ITS SUNNY/RAINY/WINDY/FROSTY.)AURINKOINEN = SUNNYSATEINEN= RAINYTUULINEN = WINDYPAKKANEN = FROST OR FREEZE