-masta

Stopping Doing (-masta)

Level 3

Use the -masta/-mästä form to say you are coming from doing something or that you have stopped doing something.

How It Works

The third infinitive elative is formed by taking the strong vowel stem of the verb and adding -ma- (or -mä-) followed by the elative ending -sta/-stä.

It is used in three main contexts:

  • Movement away from an activity: Used with verbs like tulla (to come) or palata (to return). Example: Tulen uimasta (I am coming from swimming).
  • Cessation of an action: Specifically used with the verb lakata (to cease/stop). Example: Lakkasin huutamasta (I stopped shouting).
  • Prevention, Prohibition, or Refusal: Used with verbs like kieltää (to forbid), estää (to prevent), kieltäytyä (to refuse), or varoittaa (to warn). Example: Hän kieltäytyi lähtemästä (He refused to leave) or Varoitin häntä putoamasta (I warned him against falling).

Unlike the -minen verbal noun, which describes an activity in general, the -masta form usually refers to a specific instance of an action that was just happening or was about to happen.

Note on Gradation: Always use the strong stem. For example, the verb lukea (to read) has the weak stem lue- and the strong stem luke-. You must use lukemasta, never luemasta.

Examples (4)

  1. Tulen juuri syömästä.

    I just came from eating.

    Word by Word: I come just from eating.

    The verb 'tulla' (to come) triggers the elative -masta form to show where the person is coming from.

  2. Lakkasin tupakoimasta vuosi sitten.

    I stopped smoking a year ago.

    Word by Word: I ceased from smoking year ago.

    The verb 'lakata' (to cease) always requires the -masta form of the following verb.

  3. Äiti kielsi lapsia leikkimästä tiellä.

    Mother forbade the children from playing on the road.

    Word by Word: Mother forbade children from playing on road.

    The verb 'kieltää' (to forbid) indicates that someone is being kept away from an action.

  4. Hän palasi töistä ja lakkasi ajattelemasta työasioita.

    He returned from work and stopped thinking about work matters.

    Word by Word: He returned from work and ceased from thinking work matters.

    Here, 'lakata' is used to show the cessation of a mental activity.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the weak stem instead of the strong stem.

    Tulen luemasta.
    Tulen lukemasta.

    The third infinitive always uses the strong grade stem (the same stem found in the 'he/ne' form: he lukevat).

  • Using the first infinitive (dictionary form) after 'lakata'.

    Lakkasi sataa.
    Lakkasi satamasta.

    In Finnish, you don't 'stop to do' (dictionary form); you 'cease from doing' (-masta).

  • Confusing -masta (from) with -maan (to).

    Menen syömästä.
    Menen syömään.

    Use -maan when going 'to' do something, and -masta when coming 'from' doing it.

How It Connects

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

-mastaLevel 3Stopping Doing (-masta)

Learn This First

To understand the -masta infinitive, you need to be familiar with the third infinitive stem (-ma/-mä) and how the elative case (-sta/-stä) functions to indicate moving away from or stopping an action. It also builds on the logic of verbs that naturally take the elative case, such as 'tulla' (to come) or 'lähteä' (to leave).

Words in This Pattern

-ma-sta