ettäväsuffixi

ettäväsuffixi is a grammatical suffix in the Finnish language. It is a passive participle ending that is added to verbs to form adjectives or adverbs. This suffix indicates that the action of the verb is something that can be or should be done to the subject. It is often translated into English using phrases like "to be done," "deserving of," or "suitable for."

The ettäväsuffixi appears in various forms depending on the verb's conjugation and the grammatical case of the noun it modifies. For instance, it can be found in the nominative singular form as -ttävä or -ävä, and in other cases like the genitive, partitive, or illative with further modifications. The choice between -ttävä and -ävä is determined by the consonant gradation of the verb stem.

Examples of words formed with the ettäväsuffixi include "luettava" (readable, from luzea - to read), "syötävä" (edible, from syödä - to eat), and "tehtävä" (task, something to be done, from tehdä - to do). These words function to describe qualities or necessities related to the verb's action. Understanding the ettäväsuffixi is crucial for comprehending Finnish grammar and accurately interpreting the meaning of many Finnish words.