attributiiviset

Attributiiviset is a term used in Finnish grammar to describe adjectives that modify a noun directly within a noun phrase, preceding the noun they describe. In this attributive position, the adjective forms part of the noun phrase and provides a description of the noun, such as sininen talo, meaning “blue house,” where sininen is the attributive adjective.

In Finnish, attributive adjectives inflect to agree with the noun in case and number. This means the adjective carries the same grammatical endings as the noun it modifies. Examples in the nominative and common inflections include: sininen talo (nominative singular), sinisen talon (genitive singular), siniset talot (nominative plural), and sinisiä taloja (partitive plural). The agreement extends to other cases as well, so the entire noun phrase shows concord between the adjective and the noun.

The attributive position is distinct from the predicative use of adjectives, which occurs after a linking verb like olla. In a predicative construction, the adjective remains in its base form in the nominative singular, regardless of the noun’s case: Talo on sininen. Here sininen does not reflect the noun’s case or number.

Overall, attributiiviset play a central role in Finnish noun phrases by providing essential descriptive detail directly before the noun and by inflecting to match grammatical case and number. They contrast with predicative adjectives, which describe a subject outside the noun phrase and do not reflect the noun’s case within the phrase. See also attributive versus predicative adjectives.