varhaisempien

Varhaisempien is a Finnish grammatical form that appears in written language, especially in academic and historical contexts. It represents the genitive plural of the comparative adjective varhaisempi, meaning “earlier” or “more early.” In use, varhaisempien modifies a noun in a way that expresses possession or association with earlier items or periods. The form is common when referring to multiple earlier entities, such as studies, versions, periods, or sources.

Function and usage

The primary function of varhaisempien is to indicate “of the earlier ones” or “belonging to earlier ones.” It is typically found in phrases where the modified noun is paired with a following noun in genitive or when the whole phrase is in a genitive context. Examples include varhaisempien tutkimusten perusteella (based on earlier studies), varhaisempien aikakausien dokumentointi (documentation of earlier periods), and varhaisempien versioiden korjaus (correction of earlier versions). The construction is common in scholarly writing to compare findings, versions, or time frames across different eras.

Morphology

Varhaisempien is formed from varhainen (early) with the comparative suffix -empi to yield varhaisempi (earlier). The genitive plural ending -ien gives varhaisempien. This form typically appears when the noun it modifies is in the genitive plural or when the surrounding syntax requires a genitive relationship to previous items. The corresponding singular genitive would be varhaisempian or varhaisemman, depending on number and case.

Etymology and scope

The word derives from Finnish morphology for adjectives in the comparative degree and is limited to contexts discussing multiple earlier items or periods. It is not a standalone lexical item with independent meaning beyond the comparative sense; instead, it functions as a grammatical form within phrases that describe early-stage phenomena, historical data, or preceding versions.

See also: varhainen, varhaisempi, Finnish grammar, comparative adjectives.