kannattaa / sopii

It Is Worth It

Level 3

Genitive Subject + kannattaa / sopii + 1st Infinitive

How It Works

In Finnish, certain verbs expressing recommendation or appropriateness follow a specific 'necessive' structure.

1. Kannattaa (To be worth it / Should)
This verb is used to suggest that an action is beneficial, profitable, or a good idea. It focuses on the utility of the action.
Example: Minun kannattaa mennä. (It is worth my while to go / I should go).

2. Sopii (To be appropriate / Okay)
When used with a genitive subject, sopii indicates that an action is socially acceptable, fitting, or permissible.
Example: Teidän sopii tulla. (It is appropriate for you to come).

3. The Object Rule
A characteristic feature of necessive constructions is the total object in the nominative. If the sentence has a 'total' object (a whole thing), it does not take the usual -n ending. Instead, it looks like the basic nominative form.
Example: Sinun kannattaa ostaa auto (not auton).

Exceptions: Personal pronouns (minut, sinut, hänet, meidät, teidät, heidät) and the interrogative kenet always retain their -t ending.
Example: Sinun kannattaa tavata hänet.

4. Negation
If the sentence is negative, the object follows the standard partitive rule.
Example: Sinun ei kannata ostaa tätä autoa.

5. Spoken Nuance
In everyday spoken Finnish, kannattaa is very frequently shortened to kandee or kantsii.

Examples (5)

  1. Sinun kannattaa levätä tänään.

    You should rest today / It's worth your while to rest today.

    Word by Word: Your is-worth-it to-rest today.

    The subject 'sinun' is in the genitive, and 'kannattaa' is in the 3rd person singular.

  2. Meidän ei kannata ostaa tätä taloa.

    It isn't worth it for us to buy this house.

    Word by Word: Our not is-worth-it to-buy this house.

    In negative sentences, 'ei' is used before 'kannata'. The object 'taloa' is in the partitive because the sentence is negative.

  3. Sopiiko minun kysyä yksi kysymys?

    Is it appropriate for me to ask one question?

    Word by Word: Is-it-fitting my to-ask one question?

    Here 'sopii' asks about the appropriateness of the action. Note that 'kysymys' is in the nominative form as a total object.

  4. Tätä elokuvaa ei kannata katsoa.

    This movie isn't worth watching.

    Word by Word: This movie not is-worth-it to-watch.

    When there is no specific person mentioned, the genitive subject is simply omitted.

  5. Teidän sopii tulla peremmälle.

    It is appropriate for you to come further inside.

    Word by Word: Your is-fitting to-come further-in.

    Using 'sopii' with the genitive 'teidän' makes the suggestion polite and formal.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a nominative subject instead of genitive.

    Minä kannattaa mennä.
    Minun kannattaa mennä.

    When 'kannattaa' means 'it is worth doing', the person who benefits is in the genitive: 'Minun kannattaa mennä.' The verb itself stays in the 3rd person singular.

  • Conjugating the verb to match the subject.

    Me kannatamme mennä.
    Meidän kannattaa mennä.

    The verb must remain in the 3rd person singular form ('kannattaa'), regardless of whether the subject is 'minun', 'meidän', or 'heidän'.

  • Using the -n ending for a total object or forgetting the -t ending for pronouns.

    Sinun kannattaa lukea tämän kirjan. Sinun kannattaa tavata hän.
    Sinun kannattaa lukea tämä kirja. Sinun kannattaa tavata hänet.

    In necessive constructions, a total object takes the nominative form (no -n ending). However, personal pronouns and 'kenet' are exceptions and must use the -t ending.

How It Connects

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

kannattaa / sopiiLevel 3It Is Worth It

Learn This First

To use 'kannattaa' and 'sopii' correctly, you need to understand the necessive structure where the person is in the genitive case and the action is in the basic infinitive form.

Words in This Pattern

kannattaasopia