Title: The T-plural and the Partitive case (Theory)
Course: Study PrepProg Finnish Language 1 > Section: 8 - Perhe

The T-plural is formed the same way as the Genitive case, the only difference is that the ending is -t: opiskelijat, isoäidit, autot. See more examples here, and watch this video.

This form is used when
- the subject of the sentence is plural: Autot ajavat liian nopeaa. (Cars drive too fast.)
- we mean all of the objects of the sentence: Poliisit sakottavat liian nopeat autot. (The police fine too fast cars.)

This form is NOT used in the following cases.
- After numbers not 1, use the partitive: Kaksi poliisia sakottavat viisi liian nopeaa autoa. (Two police officers fine five too fast cars.) BUT: Poliisi sakottaa viisi liian nopeaa autoa. (The police officer fines five too fast cars.)
- When you mean some, but not all. Poliisit sakottavat liian nopeaa autoa. (The police fines too fast cars.)
- in negative sentences, use the partitive as you mean none of something: Poliisit eivät ole sakottaneet autoa. (The police have not fined any cars.)

Note, that there are some words that are always in plural, e.g. events (häät - wedding, hautajaiset - funeral) and "double" words (silmälasit - eyeglasses, farkut - jeans).

This course will not include the plural stems, but it is useful to mention them here. Compare the following examples:

auto: car

autossa: in a/the car

autossani: in my car

autot: cars

autoissa: in the cars

autoissani: in my cars

When a suffix is added, plural is expressed by the letter -i-, however, this might cause other changes in the stem, and that is why this is taught only later.