Superlatives With Endings

Level 4

In Finnish, the superlative suffix -in (e.g., suurin) transforms into different stems when adding case endings. Most singular cases use the weak stem -imma-/-immä-, while singular illative and essive use strong -impa-/-impä-. With plural i, the stems are -immi- or -impi-, depending on the case. The partitive singular has its own form: -inta/-intä.

How It Works

To use a superlative adjective in a sentence, you must choose the correct stem based on the case:

1. The Partitive Singular (-inta/-intä): Unlike other cases, the partitive singular is formed by adding -ta/-tä directly to the -in stem. Note the contrast with the comparative partitive: the superlative partitive uses the -in stem with no vowel lengthening (e.g., suurinta), while the comparative partitive keeps the -mp- and lengthens the vowel (e.g., suurempaa).

  • halvin (cheapest) → halvinta
  • suurin (biggest) → suurinta

2. The Weak Stem (-imma-/-immä-): Used for the genitive singular, nominative plural, translative (-ksi), and most local cases (except illative).

  • halvin → halvimman (of the cheapest)
  • suurin → suurimmassa (in the biggest)

3. The Strong Stem (-impa-/-impä-): Used in the singular illative and essive (-na/-nä). The corresponding plural strong stem is -impi-, after a/ä drops before plural i; it appears in plural illative, essive, partitive and the -ien genitive.

  • kaunein → kauneimpaan (into the most beautiful)
  • vanhin → vanhimpana (as the oldest)
  • suurin → suurimpia (biggest [partitive plural])
  • suurin → suurimpien (of the biggest [plural])
  • suurin → suurimpiin (into the biggest [plural])

4. Alternative Genitive Plural (-inten): In addition to the -ien ending, there is a valid alternative genitive plural formed by adding -ten directly to the nominative/partitive stem (e.g., suurinten, vanhinten, helpointen).

5. The Accusative Case: For direct objects, the accusative singular of a superlative looks like either the nominative (e.g., suurin) or the genitive (e.g., suurimman), depending on standard object rules. The accusative plural always looks like the nominative plural (e.g., suurimmat).

6. Plural Local Cases: Most plural local cases use the stem -immi- (e.g., vanhimmissa) because the final a/ä of the weak stem drops when the plural marker -i- is added. The illative plural is an exception and uses the strong stem -impi-.

7. Irregularity: The word hyvä (good) becomes paras (best). Its stem is parhaa- (e.g., parhaassa, illative parhaaseen). Its singular partitive is parasta; compare Haluan parasta laatua (I want the best quality). The form parhaimmassa is also correct, but it is the inessive form of the alternative superlative parhain.

8. Root Consonant Gradation: When an adjective is put into the superlative, its root may undergo consonant gradation. Adjectives ending in a vowel (Wordtype A) take the weak grade (e.g., helppo → helpoin), while adjectives ending in a consonant or -e (Wordtype B) take the strong grade (e.g., rikas → rikkain). The root stays locked in this grade throughout all cases of the superlative (e.g., helpoimpaan, not *helppoimpaan).

Essive Plural
The strong consonants remain before plural i: vanhimpina (as the oldest), pienimpinä (as the smallest). These correspond to singular vanhimpana, pienimpänä; only the stem vowel and number change.

Examples (5)

  1. Asun kaupungin vanhimmassa talossa.

    I live in the oldest house in the city.

    Word by Word: I-live city's oldest-in house-in.

    The superlative 'vanhin' (oldest) takes the weak stem 'vanhimma-' before the inessive ending '-ssa'.

  2. Hän on yksi maailman rikkaimmista ihmisistä.

    He is one of the richest people in the world.

    Word by Word: He is one world's richest-from people-from.

    The elative plural 'rikkaimmista' uses the plural superlative stem 'rikkaimmi-'.

  3. Muutimme kauneimpaan kylään.

    We moved to the most beautiful village.

    Word by Word: We-moved most-beautiful-into village-into.

    The illative case requires the strong stem '-impa-'.

  4. En ole nähnyt halvinta vaihtoehtoa.

    I haven't seen the cheapest option.

    Word by Word: Not I-have seen cheapest-partitive option-partitive.

    The partitive singular of a superlative is formed by adding -ta/-tä to the -in- stem, resulting in -inta/-intä.

  5. Sain lahjan parhaalta ystävältäni.

    I got a gift from my best friend.

    Word by Word: I-got gift best-from friend-from-my.

    The superlative of 'hyvä' is 'paras', which uses the stem 'parhaa-' in the ablative case.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the weak stem for the partitive singular.

    Ostin halvimmata leipää.
    Ostin halvinta leipää.

    The partitive singular is unique; it does not use -imma- or -impa-, but rather the form -inta/-intä.

  • Asun suuremmassa talossa is fine, but it means "in a bigger house".

    Different MeaningAsun suuremmassa talossa.
    Asun suurimmassa talossa.

    Suuremmassa is the comparative ("bigger"). To say "in the biggest house", add the superlative marker: suurimmassa.

  • Using the strong stem for the genitive singular.

    halvimpan hinta
    halvimman hinta

    The genitive singular requires the weak stem (-imma-), not the strong stem (-impa-).

How It Connects

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

Superlatives With EndingsLevel 4

Learn This First

To use superlatives in different cases, you first need to know the basic superlative marker (-in) and how it transforms into the inflected stem (-imma-/-immä-). Since this follows the same logic as inflecting comparatives, familiarity with that process and the Finnish case system is essential.

Words in This Pattern

-in