infinitiivivorme

Infinitiivivorme, often referred to as the infinitive in Finnish grammar, is a non-finite verb form that expresses an action or state without specifying tense, person, or number. It is one of the primary ways Finnish verbs can be used without a conjugated ending. The infinitive plays a crucial role in forming various grammatical structures and expressing a range of meanings.

There are primarily two types of infinitives in Finnish: the first infinitive and the second infinitive. The first infinitive is typically formed by adding the suffix -a or -ä to the verb stem, depending on vowel harmony. For example, from the verb stem *tule-* (come), the first infinitive is *tulla*. The second infinitive is characterized by the suffix -maan or -mään, again subject to vowel harmony, such as *tulemaan*.

The first infinitive is commonly used after certain modal verbs, such as *voida* (can) and *pitää* (must), and also functions as the subject or object of a sentence. For instance, *Uida on terveellistä* (To swim is healthy) uses the first infinitive as the subject. The second infinitive, on the other hand, often expresses purpose or direction, similar to the English "to" + verb construction. An example is *Menen kauppaan ostamaan maitoa* (I'm going to the shop to buy milk). Understanding the nuances of these two infinitive forms is fundamental for constructing grammatically correct and meaningful sentences in Finnish.