formaalisten

Formaalisten is the genitive plural form of the Finnish adjective formaalinen, meaning "formal." In Finnish, adjectives agree with the nouns they modify in number and case. The genitive plural ending for adjectives of the -inen type is -isten, so formaalinen becomes formaalis t en in the genitive plural form. Formaalisten typically appears where an adjective modifies a noun that is in the genitive plural case, or where the whole phrase is in a genitive relationship.

Usage and function: Formaalisten is used to describe or qualify nouns that themselves are in the genitive plural, or to express "of the formal ..." in phrases such as "formaalisten sääntöjen mukaan" (according to the formal rules) and "formaalisten käytäntöjen noudattaminen" (the adherence to formal practices). It is common in formal, academic, administrative, or legal language and can appear in clauses that discuss standards, procedures, or conventions. The form reflects only grammar and does not carry independent meaning beyond indicating possession or relation in the phrase.

Notes: As a grammatical form, formaalisten is one piece of a larger inflection system for adjectives in Finnish. Other forms include the nominative plural formaaliset (for "the formal ones") and the singular forms such as formaalinen (base) and formaalisen (genitive singular). See also formaalinen, formalia, and Finnish adjective inflection.

See also: formaalinen, Finnish grammar, adjective inflection.