Charles Eliot

The personal pronouns are always employed when there is any emphasis on them in English; otherwise, they are mostly omitted, the termination of the verb indicating the person with sufficient clearness. Thus one says, MinÄ olen sen tehnyt, et sinÄ, I did it, not you; but Tahtoisin lÄhteÄ huomenna, jos ette pane vastaan, I should like to leave to-morrow if you have no objection.

If the subject of both a principal and subordinate sentence is a pronoun of the first or second person, it is always omitted in the subordinate sentence. Ottakaa mitÄ tahdotte, take what you like. HÄn sanoi ettei tunne tÄtÄ miestÄ, he said he did not know the man.

SinÄ and Te are used with much the same distinction as Du and Sie in German, that is to say, the plural is used out of politeness when speaking with anyone but inferiors or intimate friends.

Possessive Pronouns.

There are no pronominal adjectives in Finnish corresponding to my, thy, etc. Their place is supplied (a) by the genitive of the personal pronoun, (b) more frequently by the pronominal affixes.

When the possessive pronoun is emphatic, both the genitive and the affix are used, and in the Bible this construction is frequent, even when there is no particular emphasis. As a rule, however, the affix alone is sufficient in the 1st and 2nd persons.

The affix of the 3rd person, however, is used alone only when it refers to the subject of the principal verb; for instance, HÄn ei nÄhnyt vaimoansa, he has not seen his wife; but EttekÖ nÄhneet hÄnen vaimoansa? have you not seen his wife? Similarly, He has not seen his (another person’s) wife must be rendered, HÄn ei nÄhnyt hÄnen vaimoansa.

Such a sentence as that is mine is rendered by Se on minun. Ei minun oppini ole minun, my doctrine is not mine.

It is I is rendered by minÄ olen.

The affixes ni, si, nsa, etc. have a simple possessive sense when added to nouns, but they are added to a variety of other words under circumstances which render it impossible to translate them by the possessive pronoun in English. It would appear that they simply denote that the pronoun which they represent is to be taken in connection with the word to which they are added. When the two ideas of House and I are taken together this naturally means ‘my house,’ but other combinations have to be rendered in a different manner.

I. In old Finnish, particularly in the Bible, they are added to the cases of the personal pronouns for emphasis. Tutkikaat raamatuita, sillÄ niissÄ te luulette teillenne ijankaikkisen elÄmÄn olevan, search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life (S. John v. 39). Puhukaan itse hÄnestÄnsÄ, let him speak for himself (S. John ix. 21). EttÄ te rakastaisitte teitÄnne keskenÄnne, that ye might love one another (S. John xiii. 34). This use is found chiefly in the western dialect of Finnish.

II. They are similarly added to various adjectives. En minÄ ole yksinÄni, am not alone. Cf. the use of hyvÄnsÄ with pronouns. Similarly in such phrases as rakastakaa toinen toistanne, etc. (vide p. 171). Olkoon sinÄnsÄ, let it be; olla semmoisenansa, to be like it or him; jÄttÄÄ tyÖ siksensÄ, to leave one’s work as it is. HÄn on suorastansa hullu, he is a perfect fool. Cf. mieleiseni, agreeable to me.

III. They are very commonly added to postpositions (vide p. 203 ff.), or to adverbs (which however are mostly cases of nouns or adjectives). Ainoastansa, kokonansa; yhtenÄÄn, yleensÄ.

IV. They are also added to infinitives and participles in many constructions (vide pp. 184-200).

Demonstrative Pronouns.

The demonstrative pronouns are as follows:—

TÄmÄ, this, is used of both persons and things. NÄmÄ talot ovat minun, these houses are mine. TÄllÄ miehellÄ ei ole rahaa, this man has no money. Tuo, that, is also used of both persons and things. Tuo tyttÖ on kaunis, that girl is good-looking. Tuo ei ole oikein, that is not correct.

Se is used of the third person if anything but a human being is spoken of. MissÄ on koira? Se ei ole huoneessa, where is the dog? He’s not in the room. Ne kalat ovat pienet, these fish are small. MitÄ pidÄtte siitÄ, what do you think of it? In popular language and in the Kalevala it is also used as the equivalent of hÄn. Se puhuu totta, he speaks the truth. Se mies joka paikkansa pitÄÄ (proverb), he is a man who keeps his place. It is also used adjectively to emphasize a word, and often corresponds to our article. Se koira vinkasi johon kalikka kÄvi, the dog who is hit howls (proverb).

Reflexive Pronouns.

The reflexive pronoun in Finnish is supplied by the oblique cases of Itse, self, always with the addition of the proper possessive affix. The genitive, however, is rarely used, and only with prepositions. Ostin itselleni hatun, I bought myself a hat. ItsestÄnsÄ paha pappi saarnaa (proverb), a bad priest preaches about himself. Tunne itsesi, know thyself. Auta itseÄsi ja jumala sinua auttaa, help yourself and God will help you. Vide below (p. 170) for other uses of this word itse.

The genitive of the reflexive pronoun is supplied by the adjective oma, own, corresponding to the Russian ????. The noun qualified by this adjective takes the proper pronominal affix. MinÄ otin oman osani, ja hÄn ei sinun osaasi ottanut vaan oman osansa, I took my share, and he did not take your share, but his own share. Oma has not always the reflexive meaning, but is used simply for emphasis as ‘my own,’ etc. in English. TÄmÄ on minun oma taloni, this is my own cottage. Omat on virret oppimani, omat saamani sanaiset. It is also used without reference to a definite subject to mean ‘one’s own.’

Omat maat makuisimmat
Omat metsÄt mieluisimmat.

One’s own lands are more pleasant and one’s own forests sweeter (than those of others).

Interrogative Pronouns.

(1) Kuka is a substantive. The nominative singular and plural means who? and is only used of persons. The remaining cases kussa, kusta, kuhun or kunne, kuin, kun, etc., are mostly used as particles. Kuka luulisi hÄntÄ niin viekkaaksi? Who would have thought him so clever? Kutka tuolta tulevat? Who come from there?

(2) Ken is identical in meaning with kuka, being also a substantive and only used of persons. The nominative is rarely used, but the oblique cases supply those of kuka. Kenen kirja tÄmÄ on? Whose book is this? KenellÄhÄn olisi rahaa? Who is likely to have any money?

(3) MikÄ has two uses: (1) when applied to persons it is always used adjectively. MikÄ mies tuo on? what man is that? Mi sinÄ olet miehiÄsi? (Kal. ii. 134.) what manner of man art thou? (2) When applied to things it can be used either adjectively or substantively. It will be noticed that this is exactly similar to the use of what in English. MikÄ on nimesi? what is your name? MitÄ maksoitte? what did you pay? MillÄ kadulla asutte? what street do you live in?

(4) Kumpi is either a substantive or an adjective, and means which of two. Kumpi teistÄ (or teitÄ) tulee? Which of you is coming? Kumpaa viiniÄ paremmin rakastatte, punaistako vain valkoista? Which wine do you prefer, red or white? HÄn saapui Turkuun, jossa kaupungissa viipyi kaksi viikkoa, He arrived at Åbo, in which town he remained two weeks.

Relative Pronouns.

Joka, who or which, is a substantive, and sometimes an adjective. Joka myllyyn menee se tomuun tulee, he who goes to the mill gets dusty (proverb). Poika, jolle annoitte kirjan, on veljeni, the boy to whom you gave the book is my brother.

Jompi, which of two, is not frequently used: Ota nÄistÄ kirjoista jomman tahdot, take which of these books you like. Pata kattilata soimaa: musta kylki kummallakin, the pot abuses the kettle; but both are black. Kuka, kumpi, and mikÄ, are also used as relatives. En tiedÄ kuka se on, I do not know what is. Jos tietÄisin mitÄ tahdotte, niin antaisin, if I knew what you wanted I would give it you. N.B. The word kuin, meaning as, is sometimes used as a relative pronoun.

Indefinite Pronouns.

I. One kind of indefinite pronoun is formed by the union of the relative and interrogative in their shortened form. Joku, some one, some one or other; jompikumpi, one or other of two. Joku kolkuttaa, some one is knocking. Tuli joitakuita miehiÄ, some men came. Sano jommalle kummalle, tell one or other of them.

II. The relative and interrogative pronouns when combined with the suffix kin—jokin, kukin, mikin, kumpikin or kumpainenkin—are used as indefinite pronouns in affirmative sentences. The same pronouns combined with kaan—kukaan, kenkÄÄn, mikÄÄn, kumpikaan—are used only in negative phrases or dubitative questions, and then mean, no one, none, nothing, and neither. MenkÖÖn jokin hÄnen jÄlkeen, let some one go after him. Ei kukaan tiedÄ mihin hÄn meni, no one knows where he went. Oletteko kuulleet jotakin uutta? have you heard something new? En mitÄkÄÄn, nothing. Ei johtunut kenenkÄÄn mieleen, no one remembered (it came into nobody’s mind). Kelpaako nÄistÄ kumpikaan? will either of these do?

Under many circumstances the interogative and relative pronouns are used as indefinite.

(1) In sentences meaning ‘some do one thing, some another.’ Cf. the use of ??? in Russian. MikÄ itkee, mikÄ nauraa, one weeps and another laughs. Kuka uskoo, kuka ei, some believe, and some don’t. KetÄ nÄlÄttÄÄ, ketÄ janottaa, one is hungry, and another thirsty.

(2) When two interrogatives or relatives are combined together and one takes the suffix kin in such expressions as vieraita tuli mikÄ mistÄkin, strangers come some from one side some from another (Lat. alii aliunde). Haastelivat minkÄn mitÄkin, they talked of different subjects. TekivÄt tuttavuutta kuka kunkin kanssa, they made acquaintances one with another.

(3) Interrogatives and relatives are turned into indefinite pronouns by the addition of the words hyvÄnsÄ, tahtonsa, tahansa, ikÄnÄnsÄ, ikinÄ, corresponding to the Latin cumque, libet, vis, and such English expressions as who you like, who you will, or ever. Sen taitaa kuka hyvÄnsÄ tehdÄ, anyone can do that; missÄ ikÄnÄnsÄ olette, wherever you are; tulkoon kuka tahtonsa or tahansa, whoever comes; kuka ikinÄ sen lÖytÄÄ, whoever finds it.

(4) The use of the simple interrogative for the indefinite pronoun is peculiarly frequent in phrases beginning with vaikka. Tulkoon vaikka kuka, come who may. Maksoi vaikka mitÄ, whatever it cost. Oli hÄn waikka kuka, whoever he may be. Cf. vaikka koska, whenever; vaikka missÄ, wherever.

Various Pronominal Adjectives.

I. ErÄs, muutama and muudan or muuan, all mean some, a certain. ErÄÄnÄ aamuna, one morning. Muutamia miehiÄ astui huoneesen, several men came into the room. Oli kerran muudan ukko, there was once an old man.

II. Itse. This word, which means self, is used as a reflexive pronoun, as described above, p. 166. It is also used simply for emphasis. MinÄ itse, I myself; hÄn on itse hyvyys, he is goodness itself. When itse is used with a substantive it can either precede, in which case it is not declined and takes no pronominal suffix, or else follow, in which case it is put in the same case as the substantive and has a suffix. Itse asiassa se ei mitÄÄn tee, as a matter of fact that makes no difference. Kuulin kerran, ukon itsensÄ puhuvan, I once heard the old man himself say.

When itse is used with postpositions it often remains unchanged while the postposition takes the pronominal suffix. Itse puolestani olen tyytyvÄinen, for my part I am content. HÄn on itse kauttansa rikastunut, he has grown rich by his own exertions (through himself). En siitÄ huolisi itse tÄhteni, I should not trouble about it on my own account.

III. Kaikki, all, every, is the Latin omnis. Koko, all or the whole, is totus. This latter word is properly a substantive meaning collection, and it is not declined when used as an adjective. Kaikki is declined, but its accusative singular is either kaikki or kaiken. The nominative and accusative plural are also generally kaikki, but kaiket is used in the sense of koko. N.B. HÄn on minulle kaikki kaikessa, he is all in all to me.

IV. Moni is generally used in the singular, moni mies, many a man. When it is used as the subject of a sentence, the partitive monta is generally employed. Monta miestÄ, monta mieltÄ, many men, many opinions (proverb).

The plural monet has generally the sense of various. Monet venÄjÄn kansat elÄvÄt kalastuksella, many races in Russia live by fishing.

V. The word toinen, another or second, is used with the pronominal suffixes as a reciprocal pronoun. In this case either the oblique case may be used alone with the suffix, or the nominative, without the suffix be added. He rakastavat toisiansa, they love one another, or He rakastavat toinen toisiansa.

Muu means other or another, whereas toinen usually means the other, or at any rate refers to a definite person. Thus NÄistÄ miehestÄ toinen on venÄlÄinen, toinen saksalainen, one of these men is a Russian, the other a German. Se ei ole kukaan muu kuin kuningas itse, this is no other than the king himself. Ovatko toiset tulleet? are the others come? Onko ketÄÄn muita tullut? Has anyone else come?

The adverbial forms muualla, muualta, muualle seem derived from a stem muuka, which is not found in the nominative. Miehet ovat muualta tulleet, the men have come from another country.[14]

VI. The indeclinable adjective joka has much the same meaning as jokainen, namely each or every. Joka vuosi, every year. Se nÄhdÄÄn joka aika, that is always seen. Annoin rahaa joka miehelle, I gave every man some money. Joka toinen, kolmas, neljÄs, etc., every second, third, fourth, etc. Joka toisena pÄivÄnÄ, every other day.