BrixBloks Grammar Apps

In simple statements you can think: who + does what + to what. For example: Minä juon kahvia. Because the verb ending already shows 'I', you can often drop the pronoun: Juon kahvia. Later you will see that word order can change for emphasis, but S–V–O is a safe starting point.

Memory tip: As a beginner, keep the neutral pattern: subject + verb + the rest. Later you can experiment with dropping the subject pronoun.

The nominative plural often adds -t: talo → talot (houses), kirja → kirjat (books), ystävä → ystävät (friends). Because of vowel harmony and consonant changes, the inside of the word can look different in other cases. At A1 level, focus on very common plural pairs you need often.

Memory tip: Write new nouns with their nominative plural: talo/talot, kirja/kirjat. This gives you a feel for Finnish sound changes slowly.

In English we say a book or the book. In Finnish you simply say kirja. Context and word order tell you if the thing is new or known. You can add extra words like tämä (this) or se (that/it) when you want to be very clear.

Memory tip: Relax – you do not have to choose between 'a' and 'the'. Just use the correct Finnish case form of the noun and let context help.

A basic pattern is pronoun + noun with a small ending: minun kirjani (my book), sinun avaimesti → sinun avaimesi (your key), hänen talonsa (his/her house). With names use the genitive form plus the noun: Pekan talo (Pekka's house), Annan puhelin (Anna's phone).

Memory tip: At first you can even skip the small endings and just say minun kirja, sinun avain. People will still understand you while you slowly learn the full forms.

To ask a yes/no question, attach -ko/-kö to the verb or a word you want to focus and move it to the front: Juotko kahvia? (Do you drink coffee?), Asutko täällä? (Do you live here?). Wh-questions start with a question word like missä (where), mikä/mitä (what), milloin (when), miksi (why), miten (how).

Memory tip: Practise a few useful question pairs: Asutko…?, Missä asut?; Puhutko…?, Mitä teet?. The -ko/-kö ending quickly starts to feel natural.

Put ei before the verb and drop the personal ending on the main verb: Minä en juo kahvia, Hän ei ole väsynyt. With other persons ei changes a little: en, et, ei, emme, ette, eivät.

Memory tip: Learn the little chain first: en, et, ei, emme, ette, eivät. Then just put the short verb after it: en juo, et mene, ei tule…

Use olla to talk about who or what something is and how it is: Olen opiskelija (I am a student), Talo on iso (The house is big). In the negative you use ei + ole: En ole väsynyt, Hän ei ole kotona.

Memory tip: Repeat the present forms out loud until they stick: olen, olet, on, olemme, olette, ovat. They appear in almost every conversation.

Common location endings include -ssa/-ssä for 'in' (huoneessa – in the room), -lla/-llä for 'on/at' (pöydällä – on the table), -an/-en/-iin etc. for 'to' (kauppaan – to the shop) and -sta/-stä or -lta/-ltä for 'from'. At beginner level it is enough to recognise a few very common forms.

Memory tip: Learn location as ready-made chunks: kotona (at home), Suomessa (in Finland), bussipysäkillä (at the bus stop), pöydällä (on the table).

You normally say iso talo (big house), pieni huone (small room), kaunis auto (beautiful car). When the noun changes case, the adjective changes too: isossa talossa (in the big house). In 'to be' sentences the adjective can stand alone: Talo on iso.

Memory tip: When you learn a new adjective, pair it with a common noun: iso talo, hyvä ruoka, uusi puhelin. This helps you remember both the meaning and the word order.

Many verbs form the simple past (imperfekti) with -i: syön → söin (I ate), menen → menin (I went), katsomme → katsoimme (we watched). The verb olla becomes olin, olit, oli, olimme, olitte, olivat.

Memory tip: For new verbs, learn at least one simple past example: tänään syön, eilen söin. The contrast helps you notice the change.

To say 'I will work tomorrow', say Huomenna teen töitä (Tomorrow I do work). A time word like huomenna (tomorrow), myöhemmin (later), ensi viikolla (next week) tells the listener that you mean the future. Sometimes you see the verb aikoa (to intend) or tulla + verb, but you can manage well with present + time.

Memory tip: Always add a future time word when you mean the future: huomenna, ensi viikolla, myöhemmin. The verb itself can stay in the present.

Use these together with an infinitive: Voin puhua suomea (I can speak Finnish), Minun pitää lähteä (I have to leave), Haluan levätä (I want to rest). The infinitive usually ends in -a/-ä or -da/-dä.

Memory tip: Practise three starters: Voin…, Minun pitää…, Haluan…. Then swap in useful verbs: oppia, mennä, levätä, työskennellä.

To compare two things, use the comparative + kuin: Tämä talo on suurempi kuin tuo (This house is bigger than that one). For 'the most', use the superlative often with kaikkein: suurin (the biggest), paras (the best).

Memory tip: Start with these families: hyvä – parempi – paras; suuri – suurempi – suurin; pieni – pienempi – pienin.

To tell someone to do something, use the imperative: Tule tänne! (Come here!), Avaa ovi! (Open the door!), Odota hetki! (Wait a moment!). For plural or polite forms add -kaa/-kää: Tulkaa tänne!, Istukaa, olkaa hyvä.

Memory tip: Memorise a small set you will really use: Tule!, Odota!, Avaa!, Istu!, Kuuntele!. Then add the plural forms later: Tulkaa!, Odottakaa!.