Finnish passive in a nutshell

Here are all the posts that I have written that have something to do with passive:

• How to use the passive voice
• How to form the passive 
• The passive voice in different tenses

• TU-participle, also known as the passive past participle
• TAVA-participle, also known as the passive present participle

• Present passive in Memrise
• Past passive in Memrise

About the word order 

In an active sentence, I'd say like this:

• Minä maalaan tuon seinän huomenna. - I'll paint that wall tomorrow. 

In a passive sentence, you'd start with the object: 

• Tuo seinä maalataan huomenna. - That wall will be painted tomorrow. 

You can also start a passive sentence with a time expression or a place.

• Huomenna tuo seinä vihdoin maalataan! - Tomorrow, they will finally paint that wall!
• Koulussa maalataan vesiväreillä. - At school, they paint with watercolours.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it. 
Kiitos, kun luit! Jos pidit postauksesta, voit jakaa sen eteenpäin.
– Hanna

Singing in a choir in Finland

Singing in a choir is one of my favourite hobbies. As you can see from this list, Finland is full of choirs. There is definitely a possible choir for anybody over 5 years old who is interested in laulaminen. Usually new singers are welcome in the the beginning of the fall season, but sometimes you can join a choir in the middle of the year. Singing is a great way of learning Finnish, and many Finnish choirs sing also in other languages.

This is what you should do if you want to join a choir in Finland:

1. Find a suitable choir close to you.
2. Google the contact information of puheenjohtaja (chairperson of the singer's association) or kuoronjohtaja (choir conductor), which is also sometimes called taiteellinen johtaja (artistic director).
3. Call or email them and write that you'd like to sing in the choir. You can also ask for a recommendation for another choir.
4. Be prepared for a possible audition and go to the choir practice, if there is space for another basso, tenori, altto or sopraano.

Here's a model email that you can use:

Hei,

olen 25-vuotias saksalainen opiskelija. Opiskelen yliopistossa musiikkitiedettä ja haluaisin laulaa kuorossa. Olen laulanut poika- ja sekakuoroissa  9-vuotiaasta lähtien. Olen basso. Osaan lukea nuotteja ja laulamisen lisäksi soitan selloa ja pianoa. Tulisin mielelläni koelauluun. Olisiko teidän kuorossanne tilaa? Jos ei, osaisitteko suositella jotain toista kuoroa, joka voisi sopia minulle?

Ystävällisin terveisin

N.N.

This is the choir where I sing: https://www.kipinatkuoro.fi/

Kuva: Meritta Lautamäki

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

About the author of this blog:

My name is Hanna Männikkölahti. I am a professional Finnish teacher who gives private online lessons and simplifies books into easy Finnish. You can contact me through www.privatefinnishlessons.com. You can subscribe to this blog from the right-hand banner. 

My books in easy Finnish: www.hannamannikkolahti.com

YouTube - Soundcloud - Instagram

Finnish grammar classics

Many Finnish language learners seem to struggle with same topics. I'd say that these are the top 15+ challenges for many intermediate learners, or at least I seem to be sharing these ones a lot when teaching via Skype.

1. Tai or vai?
2. Alkaa or aloittaa?
3. T-plural or plural partitive?
4. Past tenses in Finnish
5. Why En meni is not correct?
6. The six local endings
7. "What are all these jo-words?"
8. Object!
9. The difference between Minä tarvitsen and Minun täytyy
10. How to talk about working in Finnish
11. How to talk about moving in Finnish
12. How to talk about trying in Finnish
13. Yet another reason to use partitive
14. How to finish in Finnish
15. How to change in Finnish
16. Five things to avoid to pay attention to when speaking or writing Finnish
17. Things to read in easy Finnish

Here are my favourite lists on this blog:

• 100 very common Finnish words
• Words that are both Finnish and English
• Words with one consonant and a long vowel
• 100 words in plural partitive
• Communication verbs
• 36 useful test instruction verbs

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

About the author of this blog:

My name is Hanna Männikkölahti, and I am a native Finn who gives private lessons via Skype and simplifies books into easy Finnish. Please leave a comment, if you have something to ask about Finnish or novels in easy Finnish. 

Lue lisää selkokirjoista: https://privatefinnishlessons.com/books/

Accusative verbs in Finnish

I'm sure that many of you have heard about partitive verbs, which are verbs that always require a partitive form of a noun after them. Here's a list of common accusative verbs or total object verbs. You might want to refresh your memory about the Finnish object afterwards.:)

These are the personal pronouns and the question word kuka in the accusative form:

• minä - minut
• sinä - sinut 
• hän - hänet
• me - meidät
• te - teidät
• he - heidät
• kuka - kenet?

Kuinka monta verbiä osaat jo? - How many verbs do you already know?

1. esitellä
2. herättää
3. kutsua
4. muistaa
5. nähdä
6. parantaa
7. tappaa
8. tavata
9. tuntea
10. unohtaa
11. viedä
12. yllättää

Here are the example sentences and translations: 

1. Voisitko esitellä hänet minulle? - Could you introduce him to me?
2. Herätä minut kuudelta. - Wake me up at six.
3. Hän kutsui meidät juhliinsa. - She invited us to her party. 
4. Minä muistan sinut! - I remember you!
5. Minä näin sinut eilen kaupungilla. - I saw you at the city centre yesterday. 
6. Tuo lääkäri paransi minut. - That doctor cured / healed me.
7. Minä tapan sinut! - I'll kill you!
8. Tapaan hänet huomenna. - I'll meet her tomorrow,  
9. Tunnen heidät hyvin. - I know them well.
10. Oletko unohtanut meidät? - Have you forgotten us?
11. Minä voin viedä sinut kotiin. - I can take you home. 
12. Sinä yllätit minut! - You surprised me!

About the author of Random Finnish Lesson: 

My name is Hanna Männikkölahti. I am a professional Finnish teacher who gives private online lessons and simplifies books into easy Finnish. Follow this blog, if you want to be the first one to know when I post something new.  If you want to subscribe to my newsletter, you can do it here. 

Finnish clothing brands

Do you remember by post about Finnish products? Here are three Finnish clothing brands that are definitely worth checking out!

• Moiko (Just ordered a pair!)
• Melli Ecodesign (My kids love their super soft long underwear.)
• R-Collection (Will definitely visit their shop next time I'm in Helsinki.)

Finnish course in Hossa national park in August 20-24, 2017

Would you like to have a clear goal for your Finnish studies? Like being able to participate in a four day Finnish course in Hossa in August 20-24, 2017? My friend Saija and I are organizing  a course that combines nature, well-being and Finnish language. Everything will happen in Finnish, and in addition to hiking and biking in the nature, eating vegetarian food, doing yoga and spotting reindeer, we'll also a daily Finnish language workshop somewhere between or after the activities.

The course is not for beginners, but luckily you still have plenty of time to brush up your Finnish! The idea is that half of the participants are native Finns. They can either participate in the language workshops or take naps while you study.:)

We'll have more details later, but this is just for you to know if you want to plan your schedule well in advance. The course will start in the evening of August 20 and end in August 24. We'll be staying in Jatkonsalmen kämppäkartano, two people in a room. We'll update the price and other details as soon as we have finished planning the programme. Did you notice that Hossa is mentioned in Lonely Planet's article about the best travel destinations in 2017?

This is Saija's homepage. In addition to being a Finnish teacher, she is also a yoga instructor and a wilderness guide student.

How to use the Finnish word 'puoli'

Here's a post about puoli, which is usually a half or a side. Kiitos ideasta to the person who suggested this topic. 

Ymmärrätkö nämä lauseet? Do you understand these sentences?

1. Kello on puoli yksi. 
2. Tiina on mun siskopuoli. 
3. Miksi sun takapuoli on märkä?
4. Kumman puolen sinä haluat? 
5. En kyllä maksaisi tuosta talosta puolta miljoonaa.
6. Kummalla puolella sinä haluat nukkua? 
7. Nähdään puolelta. 
8. Kirjoita sun nimi toiselle puolelle. 
9. Juoksin kotiin puolessa tunnissa. 
10. Tein sen sinun puolestasi. 
11. Hän lupasi tulla puoleen mennessä.
12. Muutan Ranskaan puoleksi vuodeksi. 
13. Joku on syönyt tästä puolet! 
14. Hän on puolitoistavuotias.

Käännökset - Translations:

1. Kello on puoli yksi. - It's half past twelve.
2. Tiina on mun siskopuoli. - Tiina is my stepsister.
3. Miksi sun takapuoli on märkä? - Why is your butt wet?
4. Kumman puolen sinä haluat? - Which half (of a bun etc.) do you want?
5. En kyllä maksaisi tuosta talosta puolta miljoonaa. - I wouldn't pay half a million for that house.
6. Kummalla puolella sinä haluat nukkua? - On which side do you want to sleep?
7. Nähdään puolelta. - See you at half past (something).
8. Kirjoita sun nimi toiselle puolelle. - Write your name (to) on the other side.
9. Juoksin kotiin puolessa tunnissa. - I ran home in half and hour.
10. Tein sen sinun puolestasi. - I did it on your behalf. 
11. Hän lupasi tulla puoleen mennessä. - He promised to come by half past (something).
12. Muutan Ranskaan puoleksi vuodeksi. - I'll move to France for half a year.
13. Joku on syönyt tästä puolet! - Someone has eaten half of this!
14. Hän on puolitoistavuotias. - He is 1,5 years old.

About the author of Random Finnish Lesson: 

My name is Hanna Männikkölahti. I am a professional Finnish teacher who gives private online lessons and simplifies books into easy Finnish. Please read more in www.linktr.ee/hannamannikkolahti and follow this blog, if you want to be the first one to know when I post something new.  

How to use the Finnish words 'lisää' and 'enemmän'

Lisää is more, additionally. 
Enemmän is also more, but it's the comparative form of paljon, a lot.

Here's how to use them in sentences:

• Saisinko lisää kahvia? - Could I have more coffee, please? (I already had some but I drank it and now I want more.)
• Saisinko enemmän kahvia? - Could I have more coffee, please? (You only gave me some and I'd like to have some more.)
• Ota lisää ruokaa. - Take more food. (Your plate is empty. Take more.)
• Ota enemmän ruokaa. - Take more food. (You took too little. Take more.)

About the author of Random Finnish Lesson:

My name is Hanna Männikkölahti. I am a professional Finnish teacher who gives private online lessons and simplifies books into easy Finnish. Please read more in www.linktr.ee/hannamannikkolahti and follow this blog, if you want to be the first one to know when I post something new.

How to use the finnish words 'ero', 'erota' and 'erottaa'

Here's a post about words that begin with ero. 

Usually ero means a difference, distinction or a divorce.

• Mitä eroa on sanoilla tai ja vai? - What's the difference between tai and vai?
• Etsi viisi eroa. - Find five differences.
• Haluan eron. - I want a divorce.

Erota is to divorce or to separate. 

(Here's an informative link about divorcing in Finland, and here's a song that you can sing to your ex in a Finnish karaoke.)

• Miksi te erositte? - Why did you divorce?

Erottaa is for example to fire and to tell apart.

• Kukaan ei voi erottaa meitä! - Nobody can separate/fire us!
• Mä en osaa erottaa niitä toisistaan. - I cannot tell the difference between them.
• A post about resigning and getting fired in Finnish

If you are confused by the similarity of these two verbs, you might enjoy my post about transitive and intransitive verbs.

About the author of Random Finnish Lesson: 

My name is Hanna Männikkölahti. I am a professional Finnish teacher who gives private online lessons and simplifies books into easy Finnish. Please read more in www.linktr.ee/hannamannikkolahti and follow this blog, if you want to be the first one to know when I post something new. 

Communication verbs in Finnish

Here's a small post about verbs that express some kind of communication between people. First, test how many words you already know:

1. ehdottaa
2. hokea
3. houkutella
4. huutaa
5. ihmetellä
6. ilmoittaa
7. inttää
8. juoruta, juoruilla
9. jutella
10. kehua
11. kertoa
12. kieltää
13. kiittää
14. kirjoittaa
15. korjata
16. kuiskata
17. kysäistä
18. kysyä
19. liioitella
20. lohduttaa
21. lukea ajatuksia
22. muistuttaa
23. mutista
24. neuvoa
25. myöntää
26. paljastaa
27. pohtia
28. puhua
29. puuskahtaa
30. pyytää anteeksi
31. sanoa
32. selittää 
33. suositella
34. tiedustella
35. todeta
36. toistaa
37. tuhahtaa
38. tunnustaa
39. valehdella
40. valittaa
41. varoittaa
42. vastata 
43. väittää
44. vähätellä
45. ärsyttää

Here are the translations:

1. ehdottaa - to suggest
2. hokea - to repeat, to parrot
3. houkutella - to persuade, to talk into
4. huutaa - to yell
5. ihmetellä - to wonder
6. ilmoittaa - to announce, to notify
7. inttää - to insist, to argue
8. juoruta, juoruilla - to gossip
9. jutella - to talk, to chat
10. kehua - to praise
11. kertoa - to tell
12. kieltää - to deny, to forbid
13. kiittää - to thank
14. kirjoittaa - to write
15. korjata - to correct
16. kuiskata - to whisper
17. kysäistä - to ask quickly
18. kysyä - to ask
19. liioitella - to exaggerate
20. lohduttaa - to comfort
21. lukea ajatuksia - to read thoughts, to read someone's mind
22. muistuttaa - to remind
23. mutista - to mumble, to mutter
24. myöntää - to admit
25. neuvoa - to advice
26. paljastaa - to reveal
27. pohtia - to ponder, to discuss
28. puhua -  to speak
29. puuskahtaa - to snap, to splurge, to say abruptly
30. pyytää anteeksi - to apologize
31. sanoa - to say
32. selittää - to explain
33. suositella - to recommend
34. tiedustella - to inquire
35. todeta - to state
36. toistaa - to repeat
37. tuhahtaa - to groan, to say something angrily
38. tunnustaa - to confess
39. valehdella - to lie
40. valittaa - to complain
41. varoittaa - to warn
42. vastata - to answer
43. väittää - to insist, to claim
44. vähätellä - to belittle
45. ärsyttää - to annoy

If you like lists, here are some other posts that you might enjoy:

• 36 useful test instruction verbs
• 100 very common Finnish words
• Words that are both Finnish and English
• Words with one consonant and a long vowel
• 100 words in plural partitive

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it. 
Kiitos, kun luit! Jos pidit postauksesta, voit jakaa sen eteenpäin.
– Hanna