Verbs With Two Complements

To become proficient in this pattern, you must identify the direction of the action and the type of object:

• The Recipient or Source: Verbs of giving, telling, or selling (e.g., antaa, kertoa, myydä) take the Allative case (-lle). Verbs of borrowing, buying, or asking (e.g., lainata, ostaa, kysyä, pyytää) take the Ablative case (-lta/-ltä) when the source is a person, surface, or open place (e.g., torilta, asemalta), but the Elative case (-sta/-stä) if the source is a shop or building. Note that lainata means 'lend' with the Allative and 'borrow' with the Ablative. With ottaa (take), a person as source takes the ablative: Otin kirjan häneltä (I took the book from him/her). Spatial sources also distinguish pöydältä (off the table) and laatikosta (out of the box). Additionally, kertoa takes the Elative case when meaning 'to tell ABOUT something', replacing the direct object.
• The Theme (Direct Object):
  1. Partitive Object (The Priority Rule): If the sentence is negative, the object must be in the Partitive case, regardless of any other rules. This overrides the special -t ending for personal pronouns (e.g., En näe häntä instead of En näe hänet). The Partitive is also used for ongoing actions or uncountable quantities.
  2. Singular Total Object: In affirmative sentences, this usually takes the Genitive (-n). However, use the Nominative (no ending) in affirmative first-person plural and second-person singular or plural imperatives, affirmative passive forms, affirmative necessive constructions that have a Genitive subject (e.g., minun täytyy), and other subjectless clauses with olla (e.g., On aika...). Note that 3rd person imperatives (e.g., Ostakoon kirjan!) take the Genitive object, just like standard indicative sentences. Joutua itself is intransitive and governs a third infinitive. In Joudun ostamaan kirjan (I have to buy a book), kirjan is the object of ostamaan; the construction has a nominative personal subject, so this singular total object is genitive.
  3. Plural Total Object: Use the Nominative plural (-t) in affirmative sentences.
  4. Personal Pronouns and 'kuka': Use the Accusative -t ending. Crucially, personal pronouns and the interrogative pronoun kuka (accusative: kenet) always keep the -t ending as total objects in affirmative sentences, even in imperatives or passive sentences where nouns would switch to the nominative (e.g., Vie hänet kotiin! - Take him home!, Kenet valittiin? - Who was chosen?). Note that the pronouns se and ne behave like regular nouns (taking sen or se in the singular, and ne in the plural) because they do not possess a special -t accusative form.