Subjektipredikaattimuu

Subjektipredikaattimuu is a term occasionally used in Finnish linguistics and language pedagogy to refer to the portion of a sentence that expresses predication about the subject, including the verb (predikaatti) and its complements, modifiers, and predicative elements. The term is not widely standardized in reference grammars and tends to appear in informal or teaching contexts as a way to separate the subject from the rest of the sentence that completes the predication.

In use, the concept can encompass the finite verb, the copula when present, predicative nouns and adjectives, and any adverbials or other elements necessary to complete the predication. For example, in Finnish sentences, the subject noun phrase is followed by the predicate unit: in Kissa istuu ikkunalla, the subject is Kissa and istuu ikkunalla constitutes the predicate unit. In Kissa on suuri ja musta, the predicate unit includes the copula on and the predicative adjectives suuri and musta.

Relationship to standard grammar is a point of debate. Critics note that subjektipredikaattimuu is informal and overlaps with established terms such as subjekti (subject), predikaatti (predicate), predikatiivi (predicative), and other lauseenjäsenet (sentence parts). Standard Finnish grammars typically describe predication in terms of the predicate and its complements rather than as a separate “muu” category, using more precise terminology for each element of the predicate.

Overall, subjektipredikaattimuu functions as a teaching-oriented label that highlights the predication component of a sentence and its relation to the subject, rather than as a rigorously defined grammatical category in formal reference works. See also subjekti, predikaatti, predikatiivi, and Finnish sentence structure.