-mmin

Comparative Adverbs

Level 3

Comparative adverbs describe how an action is performed 'more' compared to something else. In Finnish, this is usually done by adding -mmin to the adjective's comparative stem.

How It Works

To form a comparative adverb, follow this simple rule:

1. Take the comparative adjective form (ending in -mpi).
2. Drop the -mpi ending.
3. Add the suffix -mmin.

Examples:

  • nopea (fast) → nopeampi → nopeammin (faster)
  • kaunis (beautiful) → kauniimpi → kauniimmin (more beautifully)
  • huono (bad) → huonompi → huonommin (worse)

This rule naturally handles any vowel changes. Once you become confident with this, you can also easily form the superlative adverb by using -immin (e.g., nopeimmin - fastest). Do not simply drop every final vowel. The superlative stem has its own changes: nopea → nopeimmin, helppo → helpoimmin (o retained, pp weakened), tarkka → tarkimmin (a lost, kk weakened), and kaunis → kauneimmin (ii becomes ei). Learn the comparative and superlative side by side.

Irregular Forms:
Some common adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms:

  • hyvin (well) → paremmin (better) → parhaiten or parhaimmin (best)
  • paljon (much) → enemmän (more) → eniten (most)
  • vähän (little) → vähemmän (less) → vähiten (least)
  • mielellään (gladly) → mieluummin (rather/preferably) → mieluiten or mieluimmin (most preferably)
  • kauan (for a long time) → kauemmin (longer) → kauimmin (longest)

Usage and Register:
While -mmin is standard in written Finnish, spoken Finnish often uses the partitive comparative (e.g., nopeampaa, kovempaa) for manner adverbs.

Note on Distance:
The -mmin ending describes the manner of an action. For physical distance, adverbs inflect for direction: motion towards uses -mmas / -mmäs or -mmaksi / -mmäksi, motion away uses -mpaa / -mpää, and stationary positions use -mpana / -mpänä (e.g., lähempänä - closer).

Examples (5)

  1. Voisitko puhua hieman hitaammin?

    Could you speak a bit more slowly?

    Word by Word: Could-you speak a-bit more-slowly?

    Hitaammin is the comparative form of hitaasti (slowly).

  2. Tämä kone toimii paremmin kuin vanha.

    This machine works better than the old one.

    Word by Word: This machine works better than old.

    Paremmin is the irregular comparative of hyvin (well).

  3. Meidän täytyy suunnitella tämä tarkemmin.

    We must plan this more accurately.

    Word by Word: Our must plan this more-accurately.

    Tarkemmin comes from the adjective tarkka (accurate/precise).

  4. Hän laulaa kauniimmin kuin kukaan muu.

    She sings more beautifully than anyone else.

    Word by Word: She sings more-beautifully than anyone else.

    Kauniimmin is the comparative of kauniisti (beautifully).

  5. Haluaisin syödä mieluummin pizzaa.

    I would rather eat pizza.

    Word by Word: I-would-like to-eat preferably pizza.

    Mieluummin is the comparative of mielellään (gladly/with pleasure).

Common Mistakes

  • Using the adjective comparative (-mpi) instead of the adverbial comparative (-mmin).

    Hän laulaa parempi.
    Hän laulaa paremmin.

    Parempi is an adjective (better). To describe the verb 'laulaa' (to sing), you must use the adverbial form paremmin.

  • Using -mmin for physical location instead of -mpana.

    Hän asuu lähemmin minua.
    Hän asuu lähempänä minua.

    The -mmin ending is for manner (how something is done). For physical location or distance, use the comparative essive form -mpana/-mpänä.

  • Confusing the comparative (-mmin) with the superlative (-immin).

    Different MeaningJuokse nopeimmin!
    Juokse nopeammin!

    Nopeimmin means 'fastest'. If you want to tell someone to run 'faster' (than they are currently), use nopeammin.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-mminLevel 3Comparative Adverbs

Learn This First

To form comparative adverbs, you need to understand how basic adverbs are formed (usually with the -sti suffix) and how adjectives are compared using the -mpi marker, as the stem changes for comparative adverbs are closely related to these forms.

Words in This Pattern

-mmin