All the alternations (1)–(16) are determined by the same set of conditions.
Stops change in the stem of words with two or more syllables when certain
endings are added. The change is determined partly by the vowels between
the stop and the ending (alternation occurs only if the vowels are short; there
is no alternation if this position is taken by a long vowel or a consonant), and
partly by the following ending (alternation is caused only by certain types of
case and personal ending). The following rule A applies to all words,
nominals as well as verbs.
Rule A
In polysyllabic stems long and short p, t, k are subject to consonant
gradation if they are followed by an ending which:
A(a) consists of only one consonant or
A(b) begins with two consonants,
and also on condition that
A(c) between p, t, k and the ending there is only a short vowel or
a diphthong (not consonants or a syllable boundary)
A(d) the ending causing consonant gradation is usually the case
ending in nominals and the personal ending in verbs
Cont…
30 Finnish: An Essential Grammar
A(e) between this ending and the consonants p, t, k there can be an -
i- ending (plural or past tense)
A(f) alternation never occurs before a long vowel
A(g) there is no alternation in monosyllabic stems
In addition to the basic rule A there is a second rule B, which governs
consonant gradation in verbs only.
Rule B
In verbs, p, t, k, are always subject to consonant gradation before a short
vowel if they occur
B(a) before the passive ending (e.g. -tta- ~ -ttä-, -ta- ~ -tä-)
B(b) in the second person singular imperative
B(c) in the present indicative negative
Cases B(b) and B(c) are in fact equivalent, since these verb forms are always
the same, e.g. kerro! ‘tell!’ ~ en kerro ‘I do not tell’; anna! ‘give’ ~ en anna
‘I do not give’.
The examples below illustrate the way in which the basic rule A is
applied to the noun katto ‘roof’, wher there is alternation between tt
and t. It is the structure of the following case ending that primarily
determines whether the alternation occurs or not; the reason is given on
the right.
katto roof NO no ending
kato/n of the roof YES ending consists of one consonant
kato/lla on the roof YES ending begins with two consonants
katto/na as a roof NO ending does not consist of one
consonant or begin with two
kato/lta from the roof YES ending begins with two consonants
katto/on into the roof NO no alternation before a long vowel
kato/lle onto the roof YES ending begins with two consonants
kato/t roofs YES ending consists of one consonant
kato/i/lla on the roofs YES ending begins with two consonants;
in between there can be an ending
consisting of -i-
katto/i/na as roofs NO see katto/na
kato/ksi to (become) YES ending begins with two consonants
a roof
Two important sound alternations 31
katto/mme our roof NO no alternation before a possessive
suffix
katto/kin a roof, too NO ending does not consist of one
consonant or begin with two
kato/i/lle onto the roofs YES ending begins with two consonants;
in between there can be an ending
consisting of -i-
katto/i/hin into the roofs NO ending does not consist of one
consonant or begin with two
kato/i/lta from the roofs YES ending begins with two consonants;
in between there can be an ending
consisting of -i-
katto/nne your roof NO no alternation before a possessive
suffix
katto/a roof (partitive) NO ending does not consist of one
consonant or begin with two
katto/j/en of the roofs NO same as above; j=the plural i
The two following sections contain further examples of the application of
rules A and B, in both nominals and verbs.
