nominaalimuodoksi

Nominaalimuodoksi is a linguistic term used to describe a nominal form, that is, a form of a word that functions as a noun or as part of a noun phrase in sentences. In Finnish grammar, nominaalimuodot include words that behave like nouns even when they originate from other parts of speech, such as verbs or adjectives, as well as standalone nouns and pronouns used in noun-like roles. The concept also covers nominalizations, where a clause or verb-based meaning is turned into a noun phrase.

Nominaalimuodot are typically created through derivation or inflection. Common derivational paths include noun-forming suffixes and agentive or abstract noun formations, for example forms derived from verbs to express action, process or agent. These nominal forms can carry grammatical information such as number and case and can participate in noun phrases with modifiers, determiners, or adjectives.

In use, nominal forms function as subjects, objects, or other cores of clauses, and they can interact with other elements of the sentence in ways typical for nouns. They enable the language to embed actions, qualities, or concepts into noun phrases, facilitating abstraction and precision in expression. Finnish, with its rich nominal system, provides a variety of suffixes and patterns for creating and modifying nominaalimuodot, allowing speakers to convey nuanced meanings through nominalized expressions.

Related topics include nominalization (the broader process of turning clauses or verbs into nouns), substantiivit (nouns) and other noun-phrase constructions in Finnish grammar.