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importance. It indicates that the action of the verb is probable, possible or
conceivable. 1
The basic ending of the potential is -ne-, which is added to the
infinitive stem (§22).
The potential is thus formed in the same way as the past participle, which has
the ending -nut ~ -nyt (§61). The sound alternations are also the same.
1 Translator’s note: the potential is normally glossed ‘may’ in isolation (e.g. in the Appendix
below); but in context the degree of probability implied is often more accurately rendered by
‘probably’.
170 Finnish: An Essential Grammar
If the infinitive stem ends in a consonant
(a) which is l, r, s, the n of the -ne- ending changes to a second
r, s;
(b) which is t, this t changes to n.
After the ending -ne- the personal ending follows.
Infinitive Third p. sing. Cf. third p. sing.
potential present indic.
anta/a give anta/ne/e anta/a
löytä/ä find löytä/ne/e löytä/ä
luke/a read luke/ne/e luke/e
saa/da get saa/ne/e saa
voi/da be able voi/ne/e voi
vartioi/da guard vartioi/ne/e vartioi
nous/ta rise nous/se/e nouse/e
tul/la come tul/le/e tule/e
ajatel/la think ajatel/le/e ajattele/e
huomat/a notice huoman/ne/e huomaa
kohdat/a meet kohdan/ne/e kohtaa
leikat/a cut leikan/ne/e leikkaa
tarvit/a need tarvin/ne/e tarvitse/e
valit/a choose valin/ne/e valitse/e
häirit/ä disturb häirin/ne/e häiritse/e
The potential forms of the verb ol/la ‘be’ are exceptional. They are based on
the stem liene-, which is followed by the personal endings: liene/n, liene/t,
liene/e, liene/mme, liene/tte, liene/vät.
The following examples illustrate the use of the potential.
Presidentti Havel saapu/ne/e huomenna.
President Havel will probably arrive tomorrow.
Eduskunta valin/ne/e Riitta Uosukaisen puhemieheksi.
Parliament will probably elect Riitta Uosukainen Speaker.
Ahtisaari liene/e ulkomailla.
Ahtisaari may be/is probably abroad.
Utsjoki sijain/ne/e pohjoisessa.
Utsjoki is probably (‘situated’) in the north.
Moods 171
He liene/vät samaa mieltä kanssamme.
They are probably of the same opinion as we are.
Hyväksy/ne/tte päätöksemme.
You will probably accept our decision.
The potential also occurs in the perfect, when the structure is liene- plus the
past participle of the main verb (§61).
Ahtisaari liene/e käy/nyt Brasiliassa.
Ahtisaari has probably been to Brazil.
Hän liene/e ol/lut myös Marokossa.
He has probably also been to Morocco.
Liene/mme näh/neet tämän elokuvan aikaisemmin.
We may have seen/have probably seen this film before.
The negative forms of the potential are constructed in the normal way. In the
present the negation verb en, et, etc. is followed by the potential form
without a personal ending, e.g. en osta/ne ‘I shall probably not buy’. The
negative of the potential perfect follows the same pattern: negation
verb+liene (without personal ending)+past participle, e.g. en liene osta/nut ‘I
have probably not bought’.
Virtanen ei syö/ne tällaista ruokaa.
Virtanen probably does not eat this kind of food.
Emme uskalta/ne tehdä näin.
We probably do not dare to do (it like) this.
Utsjoki ei sijain/ne Pohjanmaalla.
Utsjoki is probably not in Ostrobothnia.
He eivät liene soitta/neet vielä.
They probably have not rung yet.