Tables of conjugation Finnish verb conjugation

1 tables of conjugation

1.1 basic tenses in indicative mood
1.2 conditional , potential mood
1.3 imperative mood , miscellaneous tenses
1.4 verbs of obligation in agent construction

tables of conjugation

tables of conjugation given here regular verb, of type puhua (to speak), used in formal, written language. verb conjugation in everyday spoken language different.

basic tenses in indicative mood

the present, imperfect, perfect, , pluperfect correspond english: speaks , spoke , has spoken , , had spoken , respectively or in passive voice, spoken , spoken , has been spoken , , had been spoken . auxiliary verb ei used negation, naked stem of main verb past participle in negative imperfect. finnish lacks true future tense, present tense used future time well.

conditional , potential mood

the conditional mood corresponds or should or past subjunctive in english. (finnish lacks subjunctive mood.) potential mood rather rare, , corresponds may or might in english. perfect forms of these moods understood have , should have , might have , etc.

imperative mood , miscellaneous tenses

the first , third person imperative forms here correspond english let speak , let him not speak , let not spoken , etc. perfect imperative still valid, if awkward , contrived: english let (not) have been spoken . first person plural imperative puhukaamme sounds rather formal , archaic in everyday speech, passive present indicative, puhutaan, used instead, may not quite considered correct. there many variations of imperative forms: in old writings, 1 may see forms puhukaat or puhukaatte second person plural, puhukaan third person plural, or puhuttakaan passive. in passive or third person, imperative used present or perfect subjunctive of other languages, mood lacking in finnish.

the present prospective , imperfect prospective correspond best speak , speak in english. not correct finnish use these tenses in plural: plural form of present participle, puhuvat, confusing if used in sense, resembles closely third person plural present indicative. despite apparently equivalent use of present participle, grammatical aspect of these tenses prospective rather continuous or progressive in english.

verbs of obligation in agent construction

verbs of obligation such täytyä, tarvita, pitää, , tulla, meanings must , need , ought , shall , respectively used in agent form of construction in verb not conjugated person in impersonal third person singular. here

the person or persons bearing obligation regarded agent (not subject) , in genitive case
the verb of obligation in impersonal third person singular regardless of plurality , person of agent.
this followed verb or verb phrase in verb in short first infinitive (the dictionary form) , regarded sentence s subject.


heidän täytyy puhua minun kanssani = must speak me;
minun täytyy puhua heidän kanssansa = must speak them;
sinun ei tarvitse tehdä tuota = don t need that;
ei sinun pidä tappaman = thou shalt not kill.
sinun pitäisi tulla huomenna = should come tomorrow.

there no equivalent of type of construction in english.

the verb täytyä can used in construction , therefore has no other personal forms. other verbs can carry personal endings in other forms of construction normal subject, verb, , object in obligation less strong or in verb takes on different meaning altogether.

(minä) tarvitsen apua need help, expressing need without obligation
(minä) pidän hänestä him/her, verb has different meaning




^ pirjo leino: suomen kielioppi pg 114 infinitive subject. otava 1989
^ note archaic use of instructive case of third infinitive. common error, native finns, confuse illative case, tappamaan, incorrect. now, first infinitive used pitää.