The Inflection of Numbers - Numeroiden taivutus

All the numbers can be inflected in all the cases, just like all other nouns. Below, you can find out in what situations the numbers get inflected in the different cases. Each grammatical case also comes with a table with examples of each number up to ten. Hopefully this helps you understand how the inflection of numbers in Finnish works!

The focus of the article is WHEN the numbers are put in which cases.

Table of Contents

The Numbers in the Genitive Case (-n)
1. The number one (yksi – yhden)
2. Numbers as noun modifiers
3. With postpositions
The Numbers in the Partitive Case (-a)
1. With partitive verbs
2. With negative sentences
3. With prepositions
The Numbers in the Inessive Case (-ssa)
1. With certain verb rections
2. Numbers as noun modifiers
3. Numbers expressing a duration
The Numbers in the Elative Case (-sta)
1. With certain verb rections
2. Numbers expressing a time span
3. With a superlative
The Numbers in the Illative (mihin)
1. With certain verb rections
2. Numbers expressing a time span
3. With certain postpositions
4. In negative sentences
The Numbers in the Adessive Case (-lla)
1. With the “minulla on” sentence construction
2. With tools or means
3. Numbers as noun modifiers
The Numbers in the Ablative Case (-lta)
1. With certain verb rections
2. Numbers as noun modifiers
3. When telling the time
The Numbers in the Allative Case (-lle)
1. With certain verb rections
2. Numbers as noun modifiers
3. “For how many” something is meant

1. The Inflection of Numbers in the Genitive Case

1.1. The number one (yksi – yhden)

The number one appears in the genitive much more often than the other numbers. That’s because it’s used in object sentences. If you’re forming an sentence with the object being just one thing, you will need the genitive (e.g. Avaan yhden ikkunan).

1.2. Numbers as noun modifiers

When a number is used to modify a noun, you will inflect it in the same case as the noun. Eg. in the phrase “[kahden kerroksen] talo“, the “kahden” is modifying the “kerros“. Another example would be “[viiden tunnin] matka“. See sentences #4, #5, #7, #8, #9 and #10 in the table below.

1.3. With postpositions

Postpositions generally require their complement to be inflected into the genitive case. This means that numbers will also inflect in the genitive when they function as a modifier for a noun. (e.g. viiden tunnin jälkeen, kahden oven takana, yhden talon alla). Notice how the noun is inflected in the singular genitive, despite its meaning being plural. See sentences #2, #3 and #6 below.

Nro	Genitive	Example	Translation
1	yhden	Ostan [yhden omenan].	I buy one apple.
2	kahden	Käyn lomalla [kahden kaverini kanssa].	I go on vacation with two friends.
3	kolmen	Voidaan tavata [kolmen jälkeen].	We can meet after three (o’clock).
4	neljän	Minä olen [neljän pojan äiti].	I am the mother of four boys.
5	viiden	Yövyn [viiden tähden hotellissa].	I spend the night in a five star hotel.
6	kuuden	Kauppa on auki [kolmen ja kuuden välillä].	The store is open between three and six.
7	seitsemän	[Seitsemän vuoden kokemus] riittää.	Seven years of experience suffices.
8	kahdeksan	Söin [kahdeksan ruokalajin lounaan].	I ate a lunch of eight courses.
9	yhdeksän	[Yhdeksän miehen lapset] laulavat.	The children of nine men are singing.
10	kymmenen	[Kymmenen päivän loma] on heti ohi.	A vacation of ten days is over right away.

2. The Numbers in the Partitive Case

2.1. With partitive verbs

When using a partitive verb, your number will inflect the same way as its main word.

For example: “Minä puhun suomen kieltä” has the partitive because of the partitive verb puhua. Now, if we speak more than one language, we’re using the numbers as a modifier for the noun, which is why it becomes “Minä puhun kahta kieltä” and “minä puhun kolmea kieltä“.

This is the case in sentences #1, #6, and #7 in the table below: rakastaa, auttaa and puhua are partitive verbs.

2.2. With negative sentences

The object of negative sentences will also be inflected in the partitive. When the number is part of the noun phrase that’s the object, it will inflect in the partitive with its main word. This is the case for sentences #2, #5, and #10 in the table below.

2.3. With prepositions

Prepositions also require the partitive. Examples of that are #3, #8, and #9 in the table below. Usually, there will be a noun that the number modifies, but when dealing with what time it is, you can see the number on its own as well.

Nro	Partitive	Example	Translation
1	yhtä	Rakastan vain [yhtä miestä].	I love only one man.
2	kahta	En ostanut [kahta laukkua] vaan kolme.	I didn’t buy two bags, I bought three.
3	kolmea	En pääse sinne [ennen kolmea].	I can’t get there before three (o’clock).
4	neljää	Luen [neljää kirjaa] samaan aikaan.	I’m reading four books at the same time.
5	viittä	Elokuva ei saanut [viittä tähteä].	The movie didn’t get five stars.
6	kuutta	Autan tänään [kuutta opiskelijaa].	I’m helping six students today.
7	seitsemää	Hän puhuu [seitsemää kieltä].	She speaks seven languages.
8	kahdeksaa	Hän kuoli ilman [kahdeksaa lastaan].	She died without her eight children.
9	yhdeksää	Poliisi sai hälytyksen [ennen yhdeksää].	The police got an alarm before nine.
10	kymmentä	En muista [kymmentä edellistä päivää].	I don’t remember the last ten days.

3. The Inflection of Numbers in the Inessive Case (-ssa)

3.1. With certain verb rections

There are some verbs that require their complement to appear in the inessive case. The most common one by far is the verb “käydä” (to visit). If a number appears in a noun phrase, it will be inflected in the same form as its main word. This is the case in #6 and #7 in the table below.

3.2. Numbers as noun modifiers

As always, when a number is used to modify a noun, you will inflect the number in the same case as the noun. That’s the case in the table below for sentence #1, #2, #3, #4 and #10. For example in #2, you saw Santa IN the store. If you see him IN TWO stores, the “two” will also inflect in the inessive.

3.3. Numbers expressing a duration

The inessive is fairly common in phrases that express in what time frame something is completed (missä ajassa). Numbers will be commonly used in these expressions as well, as they modify the measurement of time. This is the case in sentences #5, #8 and #9 in the table below.

Nro	Inessive	Example	Translation
1	yhdessä	Kaikki paperit ovat [yhdessä paikassa].	All papers are in one place.
2	kahdessa	Näin joulupukkia [kahdessa kaupassa].	I saw Santa in two stores.
3	kolmessa	Vahinkoja oli [kolmessa kerroksessa].	There was damage on three floors.
4	neljässä	Minulla on kirjoja [neljässä huoneessa].	I have books in four rooms.
5	viidessä	Hän juoksi kotiin [viidessä minuutissa].	She ran home in five minutes.
6	kuudessa	Olen asunut [kuudessa eri paikassa].	I’ve lived in six different places.
7	seitsemässä	Olen käynyt [seitsemässä maassa].	I’ve been in seven countries.
8	kahdeksassa	Maailman ympäri [kahdeksassa päivässä]	Around the world in eight days
9	yhdeksässä	Hän laihtui paljon [yhdeksässä vuodessa] .	He lost a lot of weight in nine years.
10	kymmenessä	[Kymmenessä kirjassa] on kuvia.	There are pictures in ten books.

4. The Inflection of Numbers in the Elative Case (-sta)

4.1. With certain verb rections

There are some verbs that require their complement to appear in the elative case. The most common ones are “pitää” and “tykätä” (to like). You can read more about verb rections here.

In the table below, sentences #1, #6, #9, and #10 are examples of verb rections. In addition, in sentence #5 we have an example of a noun rection! The word “kiitos” always requires its complement to be in the elative case!

4.2. Numbers expressing a time span

When you’re expressing from when until when something happens, you will use the mistä-form of the number as well as the mihin-form (from where to where). This is the case in sentence #2 and #7.

4.3. With the superlative

Interestingly enough, you also use the elative with superlatives. Sentences #4 and #8 are examples of this. The elative is used in these sentences to express the group of people from which one is the superlative.

Nro	Elative	Example	Translation
1	yhdestä	Tykkään vain [yhdestä musiikkilajista].	I only like one genre of music.
2	kahdesta	Kauppa on auki [kahdesta viiteen].	The store is open from two until five.
3	kolmesta	[Kaksi kolmesta] menee lukioon.	Two out of three go to high school.
4	neljästä	Hän on komein [näistä neljästä miehestä].	He is the most handsome of these four men.
5	viidestä	Kiitos [näistä viidestä vuodesta]!	Thanks for these five years!
6	kuudesta	Etsin mekkoa [kuudesta kaupasta].	I searched for a dress from six stores.
7	seitsemästä	Lapset [seitsemästä kymmeneen] lahjaa.	Kids get 7 to 10 presents.
8	kahdeksasta	Hän on nuorin [kahdeksasta pojasta].	He’s the youngest of eight boys.
9	yhdeksästä	He tulevat [yhdeksästä eri maasta].	They come from nine different countries.
10	kymmenestä	Tarina kertoo [kymmenestä kääpiöstä].	The story tells about ten dwarves.

5. The Inflection of Numbers in the Illative Case (mihin)

5.1. With certain verb rections

There are some verbs that require their complement to appear in the illative case. You can read more about verb rections here.

In the table below, sentences #1, #2, #5 and #8 are examples of this: the verbs rakastua, jakaa and osallistua require the mihin form.

5.2. Numbers expressing a time span

When you’re expressing from when until when something happens, you will use the mistä-form of the number as well as the mihin-form (from where to where). This is the case in sentence #9 and #10.

5.3. With certain postpositions

Postpositions usually come with a genitive, but the ones that express time can come both with the mistä and the mihin form. This is the case in sentences #3 and #6 below. “Mennessä” and “asti” can both be used to either say “until three” (with the mihin form) or “starting from three” (with the elative form).

5.4. In negative sentences

When you want to express for how long you haven’t done something, the mihin form makes another appearance. You will have to put the time span into the illative case. The verb will nearly always appear in the perfect tense. This is the case in sentences #4 and #7 in the table below.

Nro	Illative	Example	Translation
1	yhteen	Olen rakastunut [yhteen poikaan].	I’m falling in love with one boy.
2	kahteen	Se pitää jakaa [kahteen osaan].	It needs to be divided into two parts.
3	kolmeen	Olen töissä [kolmeen asti].	I’m at work until three (o’clock).
4	neljään	En ole soittanut hänelle [neljään vuoteen].	I haven’t called him in four years.
5	viiteen	Olen piilottanut lahjat [viiteen paikkaan].	I have hid the presents in five places.
6	kuuteen	Minun pitää palata [kuuteen mennessä].	I have to be back by six (o’clock).
7	seitsemään	En ole syönyt lihaa [seitsemään vuoteen].	I haven’t eaten meat in seven years.
8	kahdeksaan	Me osallistumme [kahdeksaan koulutukseen].	We participate in eight courses.
9	yhdeksään	Kauppa on auki [kymmenestä yhdeksään].	The store is open from ten until nine.
10	kymmeneen	Laske [yhdestä kymmeneen]!	Count from one to ten!

6. The Inflection of Numbers in the Adessive Case (millä)

6.1. With the “minulla on” sentence construction

When expressing having something, you use the “minulla on” sentence construction. Hence, when expressing that multiple people have something, the number will also be put in the adessive case. This is the case in sentences #1, #5, and #7 in the table below.

6.2. With tools or means

When you’re using a tool to perform an action, you will put the tool in the adessive case. This is the case in sentences #2 and #4. Sentences #9 and #10 are also loosely part of this rule. For #9, the languages are a tool to express something in a tweet, while in #10 the money used is some kind of a “tool”.

6.3. Numbers as noun modifiers

When a number is used to modify a noun, you will inflect the number in the same case as the noun. You can see examples of this in the table below: #3, #6 and #8.

Nro	Adessive	Example	Translation
1	yhdellä	Vain [yhdellä opiskelijalla] oli kynä.	Only one student had a pen.
2	kahdella	Syön riisiä [kahdella puikolla].	I eat rice with two chopsticks.
3	kolmella	[Kolmella lähialueella] on töitä.	Jobs are available in three nearby areas.
4	neljällä	Kiinnitin taulun [neljällä naulalla].	I attached the board with four nails.
5	viidellä	[Viidellä äidillä] on pikkuvauva.	Five moms have a little baby.
6	kuudella	Asiasta puhutaan [kuudella kanavalla].	They’re talking about it on six channels.
7	seitsemällä	[Seitsemällä kääpiöllä] oli pieni mökki.	The seven dwarves had a small cottage.
8	kahdeksalla	[Kahdeksalla torilla] on juhlat.	There’s a party on eight markets.
9	yhdeksällä	Paavi tviittaa [yhdeksällä kielellä].	The pope tweets in nine languages.
10	kymmenellä	Ostin aterian [kymmenellä eurolla].	I bought a meal with ten euros.

7. The Inflection of Numbers in the Ablative Case (miltä)

7.1. With certain verb rections

The perceptional verbs require their complement to be either inflectives into the ablative case (-lta) or the allative case (-lle). However, it’s fairly hard to think of things that taste, smell or look like an amount of things. More practically, there are some other verb rections that make use of the miltä form.

You can find examples of verb rection sentences in the table below: sentence #2 has the verb myöhästyä, #3 has pyytää anteeksi, #5 kysyä, #7 lainata and #9 has plain pyytää.

7.2. Numbers as noun modifiers

When a number is used to modify a noun, you will inflect the number in the same case as the noun. That’s the case in the table below for sentence #1 and #4.

7.3. When telling the time

When telling the time, you can make use of the ablative case. This only works for whole and half hours. For example, “kello kaksi” could also be “kahdelta”, and “kello viisi” is the same as “viideltä”. You can see examples of those in the table below: sentences #6, #8 and #10.

Nro	Ablative	Example	Translation
1	yhdeltä	Kaikki palvelut [yhdeltä toimijalta]!	All services from one provider!
2	kahdelta	Myöhästyin [kahdelta junalta].	I was late for two trains.
3	kolmelta	Pyysin anteeksi [kolmelta ystävältä].	I apologized to three friends.
4	neljältä	Bussiin voi nousta [neljältä pysäkiltä].	You can get on the bus from four stops.
5	viideltä	Kysyin sen [viideltä ammattilaiselta].	I asked five professionals.
6	kuudelta	Tulen kotiin töistä kuudelta.	I come home from work at six.
7	seitsemältä	Lainaan rahaa [seitsemältä ystävältä].	I borrow money from seven friends.
8	kahdeksalta	Menin nukkumaan kahdeksalta.	I went to sleep at eight (o’clock).
9	yhdeksältä	Pyysin [yhdeksältä pankilta] tarjoukset.	I requested bids from nine banks.
10	kymmeneltä	Heräsin vasta puoli kymmeneltä.	I only woke at half past nine.

8. The Inflection of Numbers in the Allative Case (mille)

8.1. With certain verb rections

In the table below sentence #4 has the verb lainata, which requires the -lle form when you lend money to someone; and the -lta form when you borrow money from someone.

8.2. Numbers as noun modifiers

When a number is used to modify a noun, you will inflect the number in the same case as the noun. That’s the case in the table below for sentence #1 and #7.

8.3. “For how many” something is meant

When expressing for how many something is meant, you will also use the allative. In sentence #2 the tickets are meant for two people, and in #3 the garage is meant for 3 cars. The same is the case for sentences #5, #6, and #10.

Nro	Allative	Example	Translation
1	yhdelle	Kerään kaikki tiedot [yhdelle sivulle].	I collect all the info on one page.
2	kahdelle	Matkaliput Helsinkiin [kahdelle]!	Tickets to Helsinki for two!
3	kolmelle	Meillä on autotalli [kolmelle autolle].	We have a garage for three cars.
4	neljälle	Lainasin DVD:n [neljälle ystävälle].	I lended a DVD to four friends.
5	viidelle	Se on tarkoitettu [viidelle hengelle].	It’s meant for five people.
6	kuudelle	Sängyssä on tilaa [kuudelle henkilölle]!	This bed has space for six people!
7	seitsemälle	Mikä on budjetti [seitsemälle päivälle]?	What is the budget for seven days?
8	kahdeksalle	Laulan [kahdeksalle ystävälleni].	I sing for my eight friends.
9	yhdeksälle	[Yhdeksälle pysäkille] tulee uusi katos.	A new roof will come to nine bus stops.
10	kymmenelle	Varasin pöydän [kymmenelle].	I reserved a table for ten.

That’s it for the inflection of the numbers! Please check out our article on the inflection of the ordinal numbers as well. In addition, we have an article that allows you to compare the inflection of the numbers.