Postpositions & Prepositions

A1 — Adpositiot

Postpositions (after noun) and prepositions: kanssa, ilman, lähellä, edessä, takana

I can use common postpositions correctly.

Examples

Menen ystävän kanssa kahville. — I go for coffee with a friend.
Koira on pöydän alla. — The dog is under the table.
Pärjään ilman apua. — I manage without help.

PostpositionsA1

Postpositions & Prepositions

Postpositions (after noun) and prepositions: kanssa, ilman, lähellä, edessä, takana

Learning Goal

I can use common postpositions correctly.

Exam Skills:YKI 1 · WritingYKI 1 · Speaking

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Menen ystävän kanssa kahville.

I go for coffee with a friend.

Koira on pöydän alla.

The dog is under the table.

Pärjään ilman apua.

I manage without help.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Postpositions & Prepositions

Most Finnish spatial words are postpositions (come AFTER the noun), unlike English prepositions. The noun usually takes genitive case. Exception: 'ilman' (without) is a preposition and takes partitive.

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Putting postposition before the noun (English/German habit). Wrong case on noun with postposition.

Common Error Patterns

Placing postposition before noun

Most Finnish spatial words are POSTpositions: talon takana (house's behind), NOT takana talon.

Menen ystävän kanssa kahville.

I go for coffee with a friend.

Ystävä → ystävän (genitive) + kanssa (postposition). 'With' = genitive + kanssa.

Koira on pöydän alla.

The dog is under the table.

Pöytä → pöydän (genitive) + alla (postposition = under). Noun BEFORE postposition.

Pärjään ilman apua.

I manage without help.

Ilman (preposition — exception!) + apu → apua (partitive). 'Without' = ilman + partitive.

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Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

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Frequently asked questions

When do you use Postpositions & Prepositions?: Most Finnish spatial words are postpositions (come AFTER the noun), unlike English prepositions. The noun usually takes genitive case. Exception: 'ilman' (without) is a preposition and takes partitive.
What are common mistakes with Postpositions & Prepositions?: Putting postposition before the noun (English/German habit). Wrong case on noun with postposition.

Frequently asked questions

When do you use Postpositions & Prepositions?

Most Finnish spatial words are postpositions (come AFTER the noun), unlike English prepositions. The noun usually takes genitive case. Exception: 'ilman' (without) is a preposition and takes partitive.

What are common mistakes with Postpositions & Prepositions?

Putting postposition before the noun (English/German habit). Wrong case on noun with postposition.