omistussanan

Omistussanan is a term used in Finnish grammar to describe the class of words that express possession. The category includes possessive pronouns such as minun, sinun, hänen, meidän, teidän, heidän, and also the possessive suffixes attached to nouns, which create forms like taloni, talosi, hänen talonsa, talomme, talonne, heidän talonsa. Grammatically, omistussanan can function as both possessive determiners in noun phrases and as independent possessive pronouns.

Morphology and forms: Possessive suffixes attach directly to a noun to indicate the possessor, reflecting person and number. The independent possessive pronouns can precede a noun as determiners or stand alone as pronouns in clauses. The system shows harmony and phonological adjustments depending on the noun and possessor. In practice, speakers often choose between the suffixed form (taloni) and the determiner-pronoun form (minun taloni) depending on emphasis and clarity.

Usage: Omistussanan expresses ownership, proximity, or association between entities. They are used in noun phrases to specify possession, and they can also replace repeating nouns in sentences when the possessor is understood from context. In everyday Finnish, possessive suffixes are a common and compact way to convey ownership, while independent possessive pronouns provide emphasis or serve as pronouns.

Examples:

- minun taloni = my house

- talosi = your house

- hänen talonsa = his/her/its house

- meidän talomme = our house

- teidän talonne = your (plural) house

- heidän talonsa = their house

See also: possessive pronouns, possession in Finnish, omistus.