monikkojärjestys

Monikkojärjestys refers to the grammatical concept of plural agreement in Finnish. It dictates that when a noun phrase includes a quantifier or a numeral, the following noun and any adjectives modifying it should be in the plural form. This is a fundamental aspect of Finnish grammar, ensuring clarity and correctness in sentence construction. For instance, when counting items, the numbers one through ten trigger the plural form of the noun. Even though 'yksi' (one) is singular, it is often followed by a plural noun in colloquial speech, though strictly singular is also correct. However, for numerals two and above, the plural is mandatory.

This rule extends to adjectives. If a numeral or quantifier precedes an adjective, the adjective must also be in its plural form to agree with the noun. For example, 'kaksi kaunista taloa' (two beautiful houses) uses the plural forms 'kaunista' and 'taloa'. The concept ensures that the grammatical number of the elements within a noun phrase remains consistent, contributing to the overall coherence of Finnish sentences. Understanding monikkojärjestys is crucial for learners of Finnish to achieve native-like fluency and avoid common grammatical errors. It is a distinctive feature of the language that differentiates it from many Indo-European languages.