Yksikohteinen

Yksikohteinen is a term used in Finnish linguistics to describe verbs that require a single object in their valency. In grammar, this classification distinguishes verbs based on how many core objects they govern. Yksikohteiset (one-object) verbs are contrasted with kaksikohteiset or monovarity verbs, which take two objects or have a more complex valency.

In practice, many common Finnish verbs are yksikohteisia. Examples include syödä (to eat), lukea (to read), ostaa (to buy), and nähdä (to see), as in sentences like the statements "Syön omenan," "Luen kirjaa," "Ostan kahvin," and "Näen kaupungin." These verbs have a subject and a single direct object, although Finnish grammar allows object markers and case forms to indicate nuances such as aspect, definiteness, or partitive meaning.

The concept is part of broader valency or transitivity analyses, where verbs are categorized by the number and type of arguments they require. Yksikohteinen denotes one-object transitivity, while other categories describe verbs with two or more objects or with more complex argument structures. The term appears mainly in descriptive and theoretical Finnish grammar and typology, and it is sometimes translated in English-language linguistics as “monotransitive” or “one-object verb.”

Notes on usage: Finnish verb valency can be influenced by meaning, construction, and context, and some verbs may appear with or without objects depending on discourse. The term helps linguists discuss how verbs interact with their arguments and how syntactic structures reflect this interaction.