Finnish Grammar: 2. Verb types

2. Verb types

When adding a personal ending to a verb, changes often happen in the word stem:

kuunnella – minä kuuntelen
to listen – I listen

Finnish verbs are divided into six verb types on the basis of the ending of the infinitive form and how the infinitive form (kuunnella) changes to create the stem of the verb (kuuntele/n).

If there are any of the consonants k, p or t in the verb, they can also affect changes to the stem. This phenomenon is called consonant gradation — see more here.

VERB TYPE 1 (PUHUA):

The ending of the infinitive form is –a.

Remove -a.	Add the personal ending.
PUHU/A	n	Minä puhun.	I speak.

VERB TYPE 2 (SYÖDÄ):

The ending of the infinitive form is –da/dä.

Remove -da/dä.	Add the personal ending.
SYÖ/DÄ	n	Minä syön.	I eat.

VERB TYPE 3 (MENNÄ):

The ending of the infinitive form is –la/lä, –ra/rä, –na/nä, or –sta/stä (such as tulla to come, purra to bite, mennä to go, nousta to get up).

Remove -la/lä, -ra/rä, -na/nä or -ta/tä.	Add e.	Add the personal ending.
MEN/NÄ	e	n	Minä menen.	I go.

VERB TYPE 4 (HALUTA):

The ending of the infinitive form is –ta/tä.

Remove -ta.	Add a.	Add the personal ending.
HALU/TA	a	n	Minä haluan.	I want.

VERB TYPE 5 (VALITA):

The ending of the infinitive form is –ita/itä.

Remove -ta.	Add tse.	Add the personal ending.
VALI/TA	tse	n	Minä valitsen.	I choose.

VERB TYPE 6 (VANHETA):

The ending of the infinitive form is –eta/etä.

Remove -ta.	Add ne.	Add the personal ending.
VANHE/TA	ne	n	Minä vanhenen.	I grow older.

Learn Finnish