-maan

Going to Do (-maan)

Level 3

Use -maan/-mään when you are 'going to do' something or starting an activity. It acts like a destination for your action.

How It Works

The -maan/-mään form (the illative of the third infinitive) is a core structure in Finnish. It is primarily used in the following ways:

1. Purpose of Motion: When using verbs of movement like mennä (to go), tulla (to come), or lähteä (to leave), the second verb usually takes the -maan form to show purpose.
Example: Menen nukkumaan (I am going to sleep).
Note: When käydä means visiting an activity and returning, use -massa/-mässä: Käyn uimassa (I go for a swim). It also takes -maan/-mään in start/settle-into expressions such as käydä nukkumaan (go to bed) and käydä istumaan (sit down).

2. Starting an Action: It is used with verbs that mean 'to start', such as ruveta and ryhtyä. While alkaa traditionally took the first infinitive, using the -maan form is now also common and accepted.

3. Verb Rections: Many verbs require this form regardless of motion. Essential verbs to know include pystyä (to be able to), joutua (to have to/end up doing), oppia (to learn), jäädä (to stay), and jättää (to leave someone/something to do something). This also includes verbs of asking, advising, or helping, such as pyytää (to ask), auttaa (to help), neuvoa (to advise), and opettaa (to teach). Crucial rule: These specific verbs require the person being helped or asked to be in the partitive case. Example: Hän pyysi minua auttamaan (He asked me to help). Note on käskeä (to order): While it can take the -maan form, it also commonly takes the 1st infinitive with a genitive subject (e.g., Käskin hänen mennä - I ordered him to go).

4. Future Reference: Finnish usually uses the present tense for future events. Tulla plus -maan/-mään can emphasize a future development: Tulen tekemään sen (I will do it). Context may suggest determination or inevitability, but those meanings are not obligatory.

5. Adjective Rections: Certain adjectives require the -maan form, often to express being good, bad, or ready at doing something. Example: Olen hyvä laittamaan ruokaa (I am good at cooking).

Formation:
Take the strong vowel stem of the verb and add -maan/-mään. Vowel Harmony: Use -maan if the word contains back vowels (a, o, u), and -mään if it contains front vowels (ä, ö, y). If a word contains only neutral vowels (e, i), it takes the front vowel ending -mään. A common shortcut is to find the 3rd person plural (he) form, remove the -vat/-vät, and add -maan/-mään (e.g., nukkua → nukkuvat → nukkumaan). However, note the important exception: the verb olla becomes olemaan (not omaan).

Spoken Finnish:
In spoken Finnish, the form is often shortened by taking the strong vowel stem, lengthening the final vowel, and adding -n: menen nukkumaan becomes meen nukkuun. Note: Short verbs (Type 2, e.g., syödä, juoda) generally do not shorten this way, with the exceptions of tehdä (tekemään → tekeen) and nähdä (näkemään → näkeen).

Examples (6)

  1. Menen kauppaan ostamaan maitoa.

    I am going to the store to buy milk.

    Word by Word: I-go to-store to-buy milk.

    Here, 'ostamaan' shows the purpose of going to the store.

  2. Hän jäi kotiin lukemaan kirjaa.

    He stayed home to read a book.

    Word by Word: He stayed at-home to-read book.

    The verb 'jäädä' (to stay) requires the -maan form for the following action.

  3. Lapsi opettelee kävelemään.

    The child is learning to walk.

    Word by Word: Child is-learning to-walk.

    The verb 'opetella' (to learn/practice) takes the -maan form.

  4. Pystytkö sinä auttamaan minua?

    Are you able to help me?

    Word by Word: Are-able-you you to-help me?

    The verb 'pystyä' (to be able to) is a common verb that governs the -maan form.

  5. Joudun tekemään töitä viikonloppuna.

    I have to work on the weekend.

    Word by Word: I-end-up to-do works on-weekend.

    The verb 'joutua' (to have to/end up doing) always takes the -maan form.

  6. Hän ryhtyi opiskelemaan suomea.

    He started studying Finnish.

    Word by Word: He started to-study Finnish.

    The verb 'ryhtyä' (to start/set about) is followed by the -maan form.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the first infinitive (dictionary form) after a motion verb.

    Menen uida.
    Menen uimaan.

    In English, we say 'go to swim', but in Finnish, motion verbs require the third infinitive (-maan), not the first infinitive (-a/-ä).

  • Using the weak stem instead of the strong stem.

    Menen nukumaan.
    Menen nukkumaan.

    The 3rd infinitive always uses the strong grade of the verb stem. For example, the verb 'nukkua' retains the double 'kk' in the -maan form.

  • Confusing -maan (destination) with -massa (location).

    Olen syömään.
    Olen syömässä.

    Use -maan when moving toward an action. Use -massa when you are already there performing the action.

How It Connects

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

-maanLevel 3Going to Do (-maan)

Learn This First

To understand the 'Going to Do' (-maan) pattern, you need to know how the illative case works, as this infinitive uses the illative ending. You also need to be familiar with basic verb stems and the general rule that Finnish verbs of motion (like 'mennä') require a destination in the illative case.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

-maan-ma