haluta / voida / osata + Infinitive

Infinitive After a Verb

Level 2

When you use two verbs together where the first is a modal verb (like 'want', 'can', or 'know how'), the second verb stays in its basic dictionary form (the 1st infinitive).

How It Works

This pattern is essential for expressing ability, desire, and possibility.

1. The Verbs Involved:

haluta (to want): Expresses a wish.
voida (can/may): Expresses possibility or physical ability.
osata (to know how): Expresses a learned skill.

2. Sentence Structure:
The first verb is conjugated to match the subject, while the second verb is always the 1st infinitive (the form you find in a dictionary).
Example: Minä haluan (conjugated) syödä (infinitive).

3. Nuance between 'voida' and 'osata':
Learners often confuse these two. Osata is for skills you have learned (like playing an instrument or speaking a language). Voida is for general possibility or permission (like being able to go to a party because you are free).

4. Vowel Harmony:
Remember that the 1st infinitive ending follows vowel harmony. For example, puhua (back vowels) vs. etsiä (front vowels).

5. Negation:
When negating, the first verb becomes the negative form, but the second verb still remains in the 1st infinitive.
Example: En voi tulla. (I cannot come.)

Examples (5)

Haluan ostaa uuden auton.
I want to buy a new car.
Word by Word: I-want to-buy new car.
'Haluan' is the conjugated form of 'haluta', followed by the 1st infinitive 'ostaa'.
Osaatko sinä soittaa pianoa?
Do you know how to play the piano?
Word by Word: Know-how-you you to-play piano?
'Osata' is used here because playing the piano is a learned skill.
Me emme voi tulla juhliin lauantaina.
We cannot come to the party on Saturday.
Word by Word: We not can to-come to-party on-Saturday.
The negative verb 'emme voi' is followed by the 1st infinitive 'tulla'.
Hän haluaa oppia suomea.
He/she wants to learn Finnish.
Word by Word: He/she wants to-learn Finnish.
'Haluaa' is the 3rd person singular form, followed by the 1st infinitive 'oppia'.
Voitteko te auttaa minua?
Can you (plural) help me?
Word by Word: Can-you you to-help me?
'Voitte' is the 2nd person plural form, followed by the 1st infinitive 'auttaa'.

Common Mistakes

Using the 3rd infinitive (-maan/-mään) instead of the 1st infinitive.
Haluan uimaan.
Haluan uida.
Learners often confuse this with verbs of motion like 'mennä' (to go), which do take the -maan form. 'Haluta' always takes the 1st infinitive.
Conjugating both verbs in the sentence.
Voin tulen huomenna.
Voin tulla huomenna.
Only the first verb (the modal verb) should be conjugated. The second verb must remain in the dictionary form.
Using 'voida' to say you know a language.
Different MeaningVoin puhua suomea.
Osaan puhua suomea.
'Voin puhua suomea' is fine, but it says you are able or free to speak Finnish right now. To say you have learned the language, use 'Osaan puhua suomea'.

How It Connects

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

haluta / voida / osata + InfinitiveLevel 2Infinitive After a Verb

Learn This First

To use an infinitive after a verb, you must first know how to conjugate the primary verb (like 'haluta' or 'voida') using personal endings or the negative verb. You also need to recognize the first infinitive form, which is the basic dictionary form of Finnish verbs.

en/et/ei/emme/ette/eivätThe Negative Verb
Learners need to know how to negate the main verb while keeping the following infinitive in its basic form.
Level 1

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

ei tarvitseNot Having to (Ei Tarvitse)Level 2

Words in This Pattern

halutavoidaosata

Practice haluta / voida / osata + Infinitive in Bubblegum

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