Rikkoutunutta

Rikkoutunutta is the partitive singular form of the Finnish adjective past participle rikkoutunut, meaning broken or damaged. It is used with nouns in the partitive case to indicate an indefinite quantity or portion of something that is broken. In everyday Finnish, rikkoutunutta typically accompanies mass or non-countable nouns, such as glass, plastic, or ceramic, or with nouns when the exact amount is not specified. For example: Löysin lattialta rikkoutunutta lasia (I found broken glass on the floor).

Etymology and morphology: rikkoutunut comes from the verb rikkoa, “to break,” combined with the participle suffix. The partitive singular form to modify a noun is rikkoutunutta, used when the object is not being counted precisely. This form contrasts with the nominative form rikkoutunut, which would modify a specific item (rikkoutunut lasi = a broken glass) rather than an indefinite amount.

Usage notes: In Finnish, the partitive form signals non-definiteness, ongoing processes, or uncertainty about quantity. Rikkoutunutta is commonly found with uncountable nouns or with phrases where the speaker does not specify how many pieces exist. If referring to a definite, countable item, the nominative or a definite construction would be more appropriate (rikkoutunut lasi, the broken glass). The form can also appear in different grammatical cases to fit the sentence, but rikkoutunutta specifically marks partitive singular.

See also: Finnish grammar, partitive case, rikkoutunut, rikkinäinen, rikkoontuminen.