Vaativampaa

Vaativampaa is the partitive singular form of the Finnish comparative adjective vaativampi, meaning “more demanding” or “more challenging.” It is used to compare the level of difficulty between two things, often when the comparison involves a noun in the partitive case or a non-nominative construction. For example, vaativampaa työtä translates to “more demanding work.”

Formation and grammar: In Finnish, many adjectives form the comparative with the suffix -mpi, yielding vaativampi from vaativa. The form vaativampaa is the partitive singular used when the comparative phrase accompanies a noun in partitive case, as in vaativampaa työtä (“more demanding work”). In predicative use, the nominative vaativampi is typical, as in se on vaativampi (“it is more demanding”). Finnish also allows plural forms such as vaativampia when comparing multiple items.

Usage: Vaativampaa is common in education, work, media, and everyday language to describe tasks, courses, performances, or situations that require greater effort or skill than another reference point. It conveys relative, not absolute, difficulty and is neutral in tone. It can be contrasted with vaativa (demanding in general) and with less demanding expressions such as kevyempi or helpompi.

Examples: “Tämän kurssin tehtävät ovat vaativampaa kuin viime vuonna.” (“The assignments in this course are more demanding than last year.”) “Se on vaativampaa työtä.” (“That is more demanding work.”) “Se on vaativampi sävy” (“It has a more demanding/serious tone.”)

See also: vaativa.