Pääverbiin

Pääverbiin is a Finnish grammatical term that translates to "main verb" or "principal verb". It refers to the verb that carries the primary meaning in a sentence or clause. In Finnish, the pääverbiin is typically the verb that is conjugated and agrees with the subject in terms of person and number. It often appears at the end of a sentence in simple declarative structures, though word order can be flexible.

Identifying the pääverbiin is crucial for understanding sentence structure and meaning in Finnish. It is the verb that expresses the core action or state of being. For instance, in the sentence "Minä luen kirjaa" (I am reading a book), "lue" is the pääverbiin. Other verbs in a sentence, such as auxiliary verbs or participles used in compound tenses, are not considered the pääverbiin. The concept of a pääverbiin helps distinguish the core predicate from other verbal elements that modify or elaborate on the main action. This distinction is fundamental to Finnish grammar.