Mainfinitiivisääntöjä

Mainfinitiivisääntöjä refers to the rules governing the use of the infinitive in Finnish grammar. The infinitive is a non-finite verb form that expresses the action of the verb without specifying person or number. In Finnish, the infinitive is often translated to the English infinitive with "to."

There are two main infinitive forms in Finnish: the first infinitive and the second infinitive. The first infinitive is the most common and is formed by adding the ending -a/-ä to the verb stem. For example, the verb "kirjoittaa" (to write) has the first infinitive "kirjoittaa." The second infinitive is less common and is formed by adding the ending -ma/-mä to the verb stem, often with a preceding i. For instance, "lukemaan" (to read, often indicating purpose or movement towards an action) is an example of the second infinitive.

The choice between the first and second infinitive depends on the grammatical context. The first infinitive is typically used after modal verbs like "voida" (can), "tulee" (must), and "pitää" (should), and also in many subordinate clauses. The second infinitive is frequently used to express purpose, often in conjunction with a verb of motion, or when referring to an action as a noun. For example, "Menen kauppaan ostamaan maitoa" (I am going to the shop to buy milk) uses the second infinitive to show purpose. Understanding these mainfinitiivisääntöjä is crucial for constructing grammatically correct Finnish sentences.