Tricky Plural Partitives

Level 4

While most words use a simple -ja/-jä or -ia/-iä ending, certain noun types require specific stem changes and the 'heavy' -ita/-itä ending as part of their inflection pattern.

How It Works

These patterns follow the word's Kotus declension type. To become proficient in these, understanding the plural stem change is key:

  • Type 48 (-e): The stem ends in a long vowel in the strong grade (huonee-, osoittee-). Shorten the long vowel at the end of the stem and add the -ita/-itä ending. Example: huoneita, osoitteita. (Contrast with singular partitive: huonetta, osoitetta).
  • Type 39 (-us/-ys): Change the -s to -ks- and add -ia/-iä. Example: kysymyksiä.
  • Type 41 (-as/-äs/-is): The stem ends in a long vowel in the strong grade (kallii-, rikkaa-). Shorten the long vowel at the end of the stem and add -ita/-itä. Example: kalliita, rikkaita. (Contrast with singular partitive: kallista, rikasta).
  • Type 12 (3+ syllable -ia / -ija): For 3+ syllable words ending in -ija/-ijä, the final vowel always shifts to -o-/-ö- before the plural -ita. Example: opiskelijoita.

Note that these specific declension types often mirror the patterns found in the plural genitive.

The type label matters more than the final letter. Not every -e word is hame-type: nalle → nalleja follows a different paradigm. Likewise, learn the plural stem with the noun. The i in endings written -ita/-itä represents the plural marker; the remaining case ending is -ta/-tä.

Examples (4)

  1. Tässä hotellissa on monia suuria huoneita.

    There are many large rooms in this hotel.

    Word by Word: In-this in-hotel is many large rooms.

    Words ending in -e (huone) use the -ita ending.

  2. Yliopistolla on tänään paljon uusia opiskelijoita.

    There are a lot of new students at the university today.

    Word by Word: At-university is today much new students.

    In 'opiskelija', the final 'a' changes to 'o' before the -ita ending.

  3. Opettaja esitti meille useita vaikeita kysymyksiä.

    The teacher asked us several difficult questions.

    Word by Word: Teacher presented to-us several difficult questions.

    Kysymys has a vowel stem kysymykse- and plural kysymyksi-, giving kysymyksiä.

  4. Kaupassa on paljon kalliita vaatteita.

    There are many expensive clothes in the shop.

    Word by Word: In-shop is much expensive clothes.

    Both 'kallis' (-is) and 'vaate' (-e) take the -ita/-itä ending.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the -ja/-jä ending for -e words instead of -ita/-itä.

    Minulla on monia perhejä.
    Minulla on monia perheitä.

    Words in the hame/huone Type 48 pattern take the -ita/-itä ending in the plural partitive. The ending -ja/-jä is never used for these words.

  • Forgetting the vowel shift in 3+ syllable -ija words.

    Näen opiskelijia.
    Näen opiskelijoita.

    For 3+ syllable words ending in -ija, the final 'a' always shifts to 'o' before the plural partitive ending -ita.

  • Using the nominative stem for -us words.

    Luen kysymysiä.
    Luen kysymyksiä.

    Words of the kysymys/vastaus type use -ksi- in the plural partitive. Other -us/-ys words belong to different types, as in vapaus → vapauksia; check the paradigm rather than the last letters alone.

How It Connects

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

Tricky Plural PartitivesLevel 4

Learn This First

To learn tricky plural partitives, you first need a solid grasp of the basic partitive case and the standard plural partitive markers. Most importantly, you must understand Finnish noun stem types, as the 'irregularities' in the plural partitive are actually predictable patterns based on how different word endings (like -huone or -opiskelija) behave when the plural -i- marker is added.