My Finnish text tells me that "there is no distinction between singular and plural possession,"
and gives several examples like "minun kirjani" for "my book" or "my books." A few pages
further on, I come across the sentence "Heidän lapsensa ovat minun serkkujani." The last
word seems to be a possessive suffix attached to the partitive plural. Is this correct? If so,
why do we need the plural if the "ni" is attached?
Possessive suffixes and plurals
Re: Possessive suffixes and plurals
Minun kirjani = kirjani = my book
Minun kirjoja = kirjojani = my books
when it states there's no distinction between singular or plural possession, it means that -ni, -nsa etc. remains unchanged irrespective of the word's singularity/plurality e.g. kirja-ni, karjoja-ni. Similarily serkku-ni, serkkuja-ni etc.
Minun kirjoja = kirjojani = my books
when it states there's no distinction between singular or plural possession, it means that -ni, -nsa etc. remains unchanged irrespective of the word's singularity/plurality e.g. kirja-ni, karjoja-ni. Similarily serkku-ni, serkkuja-ni etc.
“Go where you are celebrated – not tolerated."
"Aina, kun opit uuden sanan, opettele samalla sen monikko!"
"Aina, kun opit uuden sanan, opettele samalla sen monikko!"
Re: Possessive suffixes and plurals
Thank you. The text is confusing on this point. To quote it: Notice that there is no distinction between007 wrote:Minun kirjani = kirjani = my book
Minun kirjoja = kirjojani = my books
when it states there's no distinction between singular or plural possession, it means that -ni, -nsa etc. remains unchanged irrespective of the word's singularity/plurality e.g. kirja-ni, karjoja-ni. Similarily serkku-ni, serkkuja-ni etc.
singular and plural possession. Kirjani can mean both "my book" and "my books."
Is this incorrect?
- jahasjahas
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Re: Possessive suffixes and plurals
Nominative + the possessive suffix looks the same in the singular and in the plural:
Minun kirjani on hyvä.
Minun kirjani ovat hyviä.
The other cases look different, though:
minun kirjaani (partitive singular)
minun kirjojani (partitive plural)
minun kirjassani (inessive singular)
minun kirjoissani (inessive plural)
etc.
Minun kirjani on hyvä.
Minun kirjani ovat hyviä.
The other cases look different, though:
minun kirjaani (partitive singular)
minun kirjojani (partitive plural)
minun kirjassani (inessive singular)
minun kirjoissani (inessive plural)
etc.
Re: Possessive suffixes and plurals
Got it. Thank you.