partitiivpluraali

Partitiivpluraali, or the partitive plural, is the plural form of the partitive case in Finnish grammar. It is used for nouns that denote an indefinite or partial quantity, for uncountable substances, or when the object is not fully specified. It also appears in certain syntactic contexts, such as after negation or with numerals.

The partitive plural is formed by attaching specific plural endings to the noun stem, with patterns varying by stem type and vowel harmony. Common examples include koira → koiria (some dogs), omena → omenia (some apples), and vesi → vesiä (waters). For many nouns ending in -a/-ä, the plural partitive takes -sia/-sitä or -oja/-öjä, while other stems may take -ja/-ä or -ia/-iä. The exact ending depends on the word’s stem and harmony.

Usage notes include:

- Expressing indefinite quantity: Minulla on koiria. (I have some dogs.)

- Indefinite/unquantified objects: Haluan kahvia. (I want coffee, partitive singular) vs Haluan kahveja. (I want some coffees, partitive plural.)

- Negation: En näe koiria. (I don’t see any dogs.)

- After numerals higher than one: Kolme koiria. (Three dogs.)

The partitive plural is distinct from the nominative plural or accusative forms and is governed by different syntactic rules. It is a core feature of Finnish noun inflection, reflecting nuance in quantity, indefiniteness, and the semantics of action or state regarding the object.