Genitive

1   Case Endings

The genitive singular ending is -n and the genitive plural ending is -in, -en, -den, -ten, or -tten. The endings -den and -tten are always alternative to each other.

2   Formation of Genitive Singular

The genitive singular is formed by adding the ending -n to the genitive stem. Examples are shown in the tables in the following chapter.

3   Formation of Genitive Plural

The formation of the genitive plural is very complicated, because there are several endings and the case can be formed from three different stems: the nominative stem, partitive stem, and strong-grade plural stem.

3.1 Words that end in a vowel

a) Words that end in a, e, o, u, y, ä, or ö

If a word ends in a single a, e, o, u, y, ä, or ö, the genitive plural is formed by adding the ending -en to the strong-grade plural stem. The plural marker i becomes j between vowels. This group does not include words ending in a relic consonant (see chapter 3.2 a below).

b) Words that end in i

If a word ends in a single i, the genitive plural is formed by adding the ending -en to the nominative stem.

This group also includes comparative forms.

This group also includes the words that undergo the vowel change i ~ e.

Note!
If the partitive stem ends in a consonant, the genitive plural can also be formed by adding the ending -ten to it. These words always undergo the vowel change i ~ e. This rule cannot be applied to words yksi 'one' and kaksi 'two'.

Note!
The genitive plural can also be formed by adding either the ending -den or -tten to the strong-grade plural stem, if the word has at least three syllables, the strong-grade plural stem ends in a diphthong, and the syllable preceding the case ending is stressed.

c) Words that end in two vowels

If a word ends in two or more vowels, the genitive stem is formed by adding either the ending -den or -tten to the strong-grade plural stem.

d) Special forms

The genitive plural of some words ending in a consonant can also be formed with the aid of the ending -ten. These forms belong to elevated style.

3.2 Words that end in a consonant

a) Words that end in a relic consonant

If a word ends in a relic consonant, the genitive plural is formed by adding either the ending -den or -tten to the strong-grade plural stem.

b) Words that end in l, n, or r

If a word ends in l, n, or r, the genitive plural is formed by adding either the ending -ten to the partitive stem or -en to the strong-grade plural stem.

The ending -ten is added to the partitive stem.

The ending -en is added to the strong-grade plural stem.

c) Words that end in s

If a word ends in s, the genitive plural is formed with the aid of the ending -en, -den, -tten or -ten.

If the partitive stem ends in -s and the strong-grade plural stem ends in a single vowel, the genitive plural is formed by adding the ending -en to the strong-grade plural stem.

If the partitive stem ends in -s and the strong-grade plural stem ends in two vowels, the genitive plural is formed by adding either the ending -den or -tten to the strong-grade plural stem.

If the partitive stem ends in -s, the genitive plural can also be formed by adding the ending -ten to the partitive stem.

d) Words that end in t

If a word ends in t and the strong-grade plural stem ends in a diphthong, the genitive plural is formed by adding either the ending -den or -tten to the strong-grade plural stem.

If a word ends in t and the strong-grade plural stem ends in a single vowel, the genitive plural is formed by adding the ending -en to the strong-grade plural stem. This group includes only one word.

The genitive plural of this word can also be formed with the aid of the ending -ten, but this form belongs to elevated style.

e) Loan words

The genitive plural of loan words that end in a consonant is formed by adding the ending -en to the partitive stem.

Note!
The genitive plural can also be formed by adding either the ending -den or -tten to the strong-grade plural stem, if the word has at least three syllables, the strong-grade plural stem ends in a diphthong, and the syllable preceding the case ending is stressed.