Verb type 3

Type 3 verbs have four ending patterns and are subject to consonant gradation.

Pattern

Verbs ending in -lla/-llä, -sta/-stä, -nna/-nnä, -ra/-rä. For example:

• Tulla, to come
• Nousta, to rise
• Mennä, to go
• Purra, to bite

Stem

Finding the stem for type 3 verbs can be done by removing the last 2 letters from the verb then adding an -e. For example:

• Tulla → Tule-
• Nousta → Nouse-
• Mennä → Mene-
• Purra → Pure-

Examples of type 3 verb conjugations

Exceptional type 3 verbs

Juosta

The conjugation for Juosta differs from other type 3 verbs in that the -sta is removed entirely and replaced with -kse, followed by the personal ending. The stem as a result is -juoks. For example:

Olla

Olla is the most common verb in Finnish but has an irregular conjugation. It is usually first verb taught in when starting out with the language. For example:

Common type 3 verbs

• Ajatella, to think
• Hymyillä, to smile
• Juosta, to run
• Keskustella, to discuss
• Kuulla, to hear
• Kuunnella, to listen
• Kävellä, to walk
• Olla, to be
• Ommella, to sew
• Opetella, to do/learn
• Opiskella, to study
• Panna, to put
• Pestä, to wash
• Purra, to bite
• Pyöräillä, to ride a bike
• Ratkaista, to solve
• Riidellä, to argue
• Surra, to mourn
• Suudella, to kiss
• Työskennellä, to work