The partitive is one of the most difficult cases for a foreigner to learn in Finnish. This case is usually used in the same instances when some or a few would be used in English.

• Singular
 
• A word ending in a single vowel (except for i and e)
• Use the partitive singular stem (in this case, the same as the basic stem) and -a or -ä (depending on vowel harmony).
 
• A word ending in a double vowel
• Use the partitive singular stem and -ta or -tä (depending on vowel harmony).
 
• A word ending in a single -i
• Find out if the final -i changes to -e in the genitive stem or remains an -i.

 
• IF THE FINAL -I CHANGES TO -E AND DOES NOT END IN -HI, -LI, -NI, -RI OR -SI
• Use the partitive singular stem with -e in place of the final -i plus -a or -ä (depending on vowel harmony).
• IF THE FINAL -I CHANGES TO -E AND DOES END IN -HI, -LI, -NI, -RI OR -SI
• Use the partitive singular stem without the -e and -ta or -tä (depending on vowel harmony).
• IF THE FINAL -I REMAINS -I
• Use the partitive singular stem retaining the final -i plus -a or -ä (depending on vowel harmony).
 
• A word ending in a dipthong
• Use the partitive singular stem (in this case, the same as the basic stem) and -a or -ä (depending on vowel harmony).
 
• A word ending in a single -e
• Use the partitive singular stem (in this case, the same as the basic stem) and -tta or -ttä (depending on vowel harmony).
 
• A word ending in any consonant (except for non-plural t)
• Use the partitive singular stem and -ta or -tä (depending on vowel harmony).
 
• Plural
 
• #

-a/-ä

Use this ending when the noun ends in a single vowel other than -e or -i in the nominative singular.  For instance:

NB!  Some exceptions to this rule of that I can think of are:

This ending can also be used if the final -i of a word doesn't change in the genitive form:

If you don't remember if the final -i changes to -e or stays as -i, then please see E or I?

• -ta/-tä
 
Use this ending when the noun ends in a double vowel or a dipthong in the nominative.  For instance:

Or use this ending when the noun ends in an -i:

If you don't remember if the final -i changes to -e or stays as -i, then please see E or I?

Or use this ending when the noun ends in a consonant (except for when the a final -t becomes a vowel.  Cf. -tta/-ttä):

 

nominative	partitive stem	partitive singular
taival	taival-	taivalta
kirkas	kirkas-	kirkasta
askel	askel-	askelta
manner	manner-	mannerta
avain	avain-	avainta

-tta/-ttä

Use this ending when the noun ends in a single -e in the nominative.  For instance:

Or use this ending when a non-plural noun ends in a -t that becomes a vowel.

 

nominative	partitive stem (genitive stem)	partitive singular
airut	airue-	airuetta
kevät	kevää-	kevättä

• When to use the partitive
• Words that require the partitive
• Exceptions to the rules
• Partitive vs. Accusative