Sunday, May 31, 2020

19. Genitive endings and k-p-t- changes

We learned earlier, that the word "of" and ending 's can be translated into Finnish using the genitive ending -n

talo        of the house
talon ovi    the door of the house

Leenan        Leena's
Leenan pää        Leena's head

However, what we didn't learn about yet, are the KPT-changes. 

In short, if the last consonant in the word, the one right before the vowel, is either K, or P, or T, there are some changes when the genitive ending -n is added.

Which words do we talk about?
KALA (fish) - the last consonant before the last A-vowel is L
Here there are no changes when the genitive ending is added. 
Kala     Kalan

ISÄ (father) the last consonant before the last Ä-vowel is S
Here there are no changes when the genitive ending is added. 
isä         Isän

LÄÄKÄRI (doctor) the last consonant before the last I-vowel is R. 
Here there are no changes when the genitive ending is added. 
lääkäri        lääkärin

KUKKA (flower) - the last consonant before the last A-vowel is K
Here there will be changes, when the genitive ending -n is added to the word.

TYTTÖ (girl) - the last consonant before the last Ö vowel is T. 
Here there will be changes, when the genitive ending -n is added to the word.

LAPPU (piece of paper) The last consonant before the last U vowel is P
Here there will be changes, when the genitive ending -n is added to the word.

POIKA (boy) The last consonant before the last A vowel is K
Here there will be changes, when the genitive ending -n is added to the word.

ÄITI (mother) The last consonant before the last I vowel is T. 
Here there will be changes, when the genitive ending -n is added to the word.

LEIPÄ (bread) The last consonant before the last Ä vowel is P
Here there will be changes, when the genitive ending -n is added to the word.

What kind of changes do we talk about? There are a few simple rules:

If there is a double KK or a double TT, or a double PP, one of those consonants is dropped, when the
genitive ending is added to the word.

Kukka - Kukan
Tyttö - Tytön
Lappu - Lapun

If there is a single K, P or T, the consonant gets weaker,  when the
genitive ending -n is added to the word.

K is dropped completely
ruoka - ruoan

T becomes weaker D
äiti - äidin

P becomes weaker V
leipä - leivän

So let's practice:
Rotta (rat) becomes rotan (of the rat)
katto (roof) becomes katon (of the roof)
hytti (cabin) becomes hytin (of the cabin)

takki (coat) becomes takin (of the coat)
koukku (hook) becomes koukun (of the hook)
lusikka (spoon) becomes lusikan (of the spoon)

ryppy (wrinkle) becomes rypyn (of the wrinkle)
kaappi (closet) becomes kaapin (of the closet)
kuppi (cup) becomes kupin (of the cup)

laki (law) becomes lain (of the law)
taika (magic) becomes taian (of magic)
teko (deed) becomes teon (of the deed)

huopa (blanket) becomes huovan (of the blanket)
rapu (crab) becomes ravun (of the crab)
kipu (pain) becomes kivun (of the pain)

täti (aunt) becomes tädin (of the aunt)
setä (uncle) becomes sedän (of the uncle)
koti (home) becomes kodin (of the home)


Be careful however: if there is consonant S next to the K, P or T, it will not change. 

lasku - laskun
roska - roskan
tiski - tiskin
teksti - tekstin
posti - postin
pasta - pastan


Next lesson:




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