There are some expressions of quantity which are similar to objects in that
they take partitive or accusative endings in accordance with the normal rules
for objects. These expressions include those answering the questions ‘how
long?’, ‘how far?’, ‘how many times?’, and ‘which time (in order)?’.
Olen ollut Suomessa viiko/n. I have been a week in Finland.
En ole ollut Suomessa viikko/a. I have not been a week in Finland.
Ole Suomessa viikko! Stay a week in Finland!
Suomessa ollaan viikko. We (lit. ‘one’) will stay a week in
Finland.
106 Finnish: An Essential Grammar
Viren juoksee kilometri/n. Viren will run a kilometre.
Viren ei juokse kilometri/ä. Viren will not run a kilometre.
Juokse kilometri! Run a kilometre!
Olen nähnyt hänet kaksi kertaa. I have seen him/her twice (‘two
times’).
En ole nähnyt häntä kah/ta kertaa. I have not seen him/her twice.
