määrityssanojen

Määrityssanojen, which translates to "determinatives" or "determiners" in English, is a grammatical term used in Finnish linguistics. These are words that precede nouns and provide additional information about them, clarifying their reference or quantity. They are a type of modifier that specifies the noun it modifies.

Common examples of määrityssanojen in Finnish include demonstrative pronouns such as tämä (this), tuo (that), and se (it/that). Possessive suffixes and pronouns also function as determinatives, indicating ownership, for example, minun (my), sinun (your), or the possessive suffixes attached to nouns like taloni (my house). Articles, which are common in many languages, do not exist in Finnish. Instead, determinatives often fill a similar role in specifying definiteness or indefiniteness.

Other words that can function as determinatives include numerals like yksi (one), kaksi (two), and quantifiers such as kaikki (all), monta (many), and vähän (a few). These words specify the number or amount of the noun. The position of determinatives is typically before the noun they modify, though there can be some flexibility depending on the specific word and sentence structure. Understanding the function of määrityssanojen is crucial for comprehending how Finnish nouns are specified and contextualized within a sentence.