täysverbi

Täysverbi is a Finnish term referring to a verb that can function as a complete predicate in a sentence. This means it can express a full action or state of being without requiring additional auxiliary verbs or complements to convey its meaning. In Finnish grammar, täysverbi contrasts with parts of speech that have verbal characteristics but cannot stand alone as a predicate, such as participles or infinitives when used in certain constructions.

The concept of täysverbi is important for understanding Finnish sentence structure and verb conjugation. A täysverbi typically carries the main semantic load of the sentence and agrees with the subject in person and number. It can also be inflected for tense, mood, and voice. For example, in the sentence "Minä luen kirjaa" (I am reading a book), "luen" is a täysverbi because it expresses the complete action and can stand as the predicate.

While the term "täysverbi" is specific to Finnish grammatical analysis, the underlying concept of a verb that can form a complete predicate is found in many languages. Finnish grammar distinguishes between different verbal forms, and identifying a täysverbi helps in analyzing the grammatical function and completeness of the verbal element within a sentence. Other verbal forms, like participles in compound tenses or infinitives in modal verb constructions, do not independently function as täysverbi.