vastausta

Vastausta is the partitive singular form of the Finnish noun vastaus, meaning an answer or response. It is used in contexts where the quantity is indefinite or the object is not regarded as a definite whole, or after negation. The nominative form is vastaus, and the partitive plural is vastauksia.

In Finnish grammar, vastausta commonly appears after negative verbs or in expressions that denote an indefinite amount of the thing referred to. For example, in the sentence Minulla ei ole vastausta (I do not have an answer), vastausta is in the partitive due to negation. Other common constructions include Odotan vastausta (I am waiting for an answer) and En osaa antaa vastausta (I cannot provide an answer). The plural form used for multiple answers is vastauksia.

Vastaus as a concept covers both a reply in conversation and a solution to a problem. The noun is derived from the verb vastata (to answer) with the typical noun-forming suffix -us. In usage, vastaus can appear in various formal and informal registers and in fields such as education, communication, and inquiry handling. It can pair with verbs like antaa (to give), etsiä (to seek), pyytää (to request), or odottaa (to await).

See also: Vastaus, Finnish grammar, Partitive case.