3. Two completely independent main clauses

Let’s start with the assumption that you always have a comma between two main clauses! This makes it easier to look at the situations where we don’t add one!

Default rule for [main clause] + [main clause]:

Default rule: two completely independent clauses → Add a comma

A clause is independent when it can exist on its own. This means you can separate the clauses in the sentence from one another, and they will both still form a full sentence.

For example, the sentence “Minä avasin ikkunan, ja raikas tuuli virtasi sisään.” has two independent clauses: “Minä avasin ikkunan” (I opened the window) and “Raikas tuuli virtasi sisään” (A fresh wind flowed in). These sentences are connected to one another with the conjunction ja, which is a rinnastuskonjunktio (coordinating conjunction).

Examples:

• Äiti pesi ikkunat, ja isä siivosi keittiön. → Add a comma
  • Sentence: [main clause] + [main clause]
  • Translation: Mother washed the windows and father cleaned the kitchen.
• Minä laulan mielelläni lastenlauluja, ja sinä tykkäät soittaa pianoa. → Add a comma
  • Sentence: [main clause] + [main clause]
  • Translation: I like to sing children’s songs, and you like to play the piano.
• Tuleeko Ari mukaan, vai jääkö hän mieluummin kotiin? → Add a comma
  • Sentence: [main clause] + [main clause]
  • Translation: Will Ari come along, or would he rather stay home?
• Kirja valmistuu alkusyksystä, ja se julkaistaan lokakuussa. → Add a comma
  • Sentence: [main clause] + [main clause]
  • Translation: The book will be completed in early autumn, and it will be published in October.
• Minä en tunne Aria, eikä hän tunne minua. → Add a comma
  • Sentence: [main clause] + [main clause]
  • Translation: I don’t know Ari, nor does he know me.

4. Two main clauses with a shared element – No comma!

A “shared element” is something that applies to both clauses inside the sentence equally. We can mark this sentence type as [main clause] + [incomplete main clause]. You will not use a comma in this case.

4.1. What elements can be “shared”?

When you have a [main clause] + [main clause] situation, but both the clauses share an element, you will not add a comma. This shared element could be, for example, an expression of time, a location or even an object.

Examples:

• Ulkona on kylmä ja sataa lunta. → No comma
  • Sentence: [main clause] + [incomplete main clause]
  • Shared element: ulkona (location)
  • Translation: Outside, it is cold and snowing.
• Iltapäivällä saan avaimet ja käyn katsomassa asuntoa. → No comma
  • Sentence: [main clause] + [incomplete main clause]
  • Shared element: iltapäivällä (expression of time)
  • Translation: In the afternoon, I will get the keys and go look at the apartment.
• Tiistaina pidetään kokous ja voin vihdoinkin sanoa mielipiteeni. → No comma
  • Sentence: [main clause] + [incomplete main clause]
  • Shared element: tiistaina (expression of time)
  • Translation: On Tuesday, there will be a meeting, and I can finally say what I think.
• Auto nostettiin ojasta aamulla ja hinattiin myöhemmin korjaamoon. → No comma
  • Sentence: [main clause] + [incomplete main clause]
  • Shared element: auto (object)
  • Translation: The car was lifted from the ditch in the morning and later towed to a repair shop.
• Minä pesen ja vaimoni kuivaa astiat. → No comma
  • Sentence: [incomplete main clause] + [main clause]
  • Shared element: astiat (object)
  • Translation: I wash and my wife dries the dishes.

4.2. A shared subject

It’s important to have a closer look at clauses that share a subject. This is where things get a little unusual. The rule for a “shared subject” is purely grammatical. It is not based on what we understand the subject to be.

This means that if the subject of both clauses is hän, but you only write hän in the first sentence, no comma is added. This is because they share the same subject. If both sentences have the word hän written inside them, you will add a comma because, now, both sentences have their own subject. It doesn’t matter at all that the hän refers to the same person in both sentences!

Examples:

• Perheet matkustavat ulkomaille tai __ viettävät lomansa kesämökillä. → No comma
  • Sentence: [main clause] + [incomplete main clause]
  • Shared element: perheet (has been left out of the second main clause)
  • Translation: Families travel abroad or spend their vacation at the summer cottage.
• Ari rakensi saunan ja __ tilasi polttopuita. → No comma
  • Sentence: [main clause] + [incomplete main clause]
  • Shared element: Ari (has been left out of the second main clause)
  • Translation: Ari built a sauna and ordered firewood.
• Moottori ylikuumeni ja __ hajosi alle kaksi viikkoa kaupanteon jälkeen. → No comma
  • Sentence: [main clause] + [incomplete main clause]
  • Shared element: moottori (has been left out of the second main clause)
  • Translation: The engine overheated and broke down less than two weeks after the purchase.
• Kirja valmistuu alkusyksystä ja __ tulee markkinoille heti sen jälkeen. → No comma
  • Sentence: [main clause] + [incomplete main clause]
  • Shared element: kirja (has been left out of the second main clause)
  • Translation: The book will be completed in early autumn and will be released immediately after that.
• Arin mielestä suunnitelma on hyvä eikä sen toteuttamiselle ole esteitä. → No comma
  • Sentence: [main clause] + [incomplete main clause]
  • Shared element: Arin mielestä (adverb phrase)
  • Translation: In Ari’s opinion, the plan is good and there are no obstacles to its implementation.

4.2.1. Hän and he as shared subjects

Let’s now look specifically about hän and he as shared subjects. This is important because they differ from the often personal pronouns (see the next section for those). If we hide hän and he from the second main clause you won’t use a comma. The comma rule here is purely based on the syntax of the sentence – it’s not based on your common understanding that both sentences “share” the same subject. In other words, if the subject hän/he is visible in both sentences, you will see them as two independent sentences and, thus, add a comma. If we leave out hän or he, the sentences are no longer independent so there is no comma.

Examples:

• Ari rakensi saunan, ja hän tilasi myös polttopuita. → Add a comma
• Ari rakensi saunan ja __ tilasi myös polttopuita. → No comma
  • Translation: “Ari built the sauna and (he) also ordered firewood.”
• Mies istahti tuoliin, ja hän nukahti heti. → Add a comma
• Mies istahti tuoliin ja __ nukahti heti. → No comma
  • Translation: “The man sat down on the chair and (he) fell asleep immediately.”
• Ari on tänään sairaana, eikä hän tule huomennakaan töihin. → Add a comma
• Ari on tänään sairaana eikä __ tule huomennakaan töihin. → No comma
  • Translation: “Ari is sick today and (he) won’t be coming to work tomorrow either.”

Do note that these sentences form an exception to the rule that states we “always” have to add hän and he to sentences in the third person. This is an overgeneralization you will learn early on in your Finnish studies. The rule makes sense early on, because you are only constructing one-clause sentences at that point. For example, the sentence “Minä olen suomalainen” can be shortened to “Olen suomalainen“, while for the sentence “Hän on suomalainen” you cannot omit hän. “On suomalainen” is not a complete sentence.

Once you have more complex sentences with two main clauses, we can add some lenience to this rule. We can omit the second hän in that situation. For example, “Hän on suomalainen ja hän puhuu suomea” can be shortened to “Hän on suomalainen ja puhuu suomea“.

4.2.2. Minä, sinä, me and te as shared subjects

As you know, the subjects minä, sinä, me and te can be omitted from Finnish sentences. Since the Finnish comma rules are based on which subjects are visible in the sentence, we need to look at these pronouns separately. In fact, adding a comma or leaving it out are both considered acceptable when the subject is minä, sinä, me or te and has been omitted. Most commonly, it will be left out when both sentences are short.

Examples:

• Rakensin saunan, ja kävin sen jälkeen ostamassa polttopuita. → Comma or no comma, both fine
  • (Minä) rakensin saunan ja (minä) kävin sen jälkeen ostamassa polttopuita.
  • Translation: “I built the sauna and (I) went to buy firewood after that.”
• Lähdemme tasan viideltä, emmekä odota myöhästyjiä hetkeäkään. → Comma or no comma, both fine
  • (Me) lähdemme tasan viideltä (ja me) emme odota myöhästyjiä hetkeäkään
  • Translation: “We will leave at five o’clock sharp and we won’t wait for latecomers even for a moment.”
• Tuletko mukaan juhliin vai jäätkö mieluummin kotiin? → Comma or no comma, both fine
  • Tuletko (sinä) mukaan juhliin vai jäätkö (sinä) mieluummin kotiin?
  • Translation: “Are you coming along to the party or do you rather stay home?”

Note that this is only the case when both sentences have the same personal pronoun (e.g. minä + minä)! If they have different subjects (e.g. minä + me), you have two independent main clauses, which means you need to add a comma (see the first rule at the beginning of this article).

4.2.3. The imperative used as a shared subject

When you have two imperative sentences within a clause, Finnish considers those to be inflected in the same person. Thus, we apply the same rule as in the previous section: you can use a comma or leave it out as you see fit.

Examples:

• Tule huomenna käymään ja tuo lapset mukaan! → Comma or no comma, both fine
  • Both verbs are inflected in the second person singular imperative form.
  • Translation: “Come visit tomorrow and bring the kids!”
• Lue käyttöohje ja toimi ohjeiden mukaan. → Comma or no comma, both fine
  • Both verbs are inflected in the second person singular imperative form.
  • Translation: “Read the user manual and follow the instructions.”
• Lukekaa teksti ja vastatkaa kysymyksiin! → Comma or no comma, both fine
  • Both verbs are inflected in the second person plural imperative form.
  • Translation: “Read the text and answer the questions.” (addressed to more than one person)

Note that if your sentence is really short, there is no comma (e.g. Tanssi ja laula! “Dance and sing!”). More about this in section 6.

4.2.4. The passive used as a shared subject

When you have a clause with two sentences which have the verb inflected in a passive form, Finnish considers those to be inflected in the same person. These have the same rule as the previous section: you can use a comma or leave it out.

Examples:

• Kirja skannataan lainausautomaatilla ja kuitti tulostetaan. → Comma or no comma, both fine
  • Both verbs are inflected in the passive present tense.
  • Translation: “The book is scanned at the lending machine and a receipt is printed.”
• Hakemus on käsitelty ja päätös on tehty. → Comma or no comma, both fine
  • Both verbs are inflected in the passive perfect tense.
  • Translation: “The application has been processed, and a decision has been made.”

Note that these sentences can have another shared element (see section 3.1) in addition to the shared passive verb form, in which case no comma will be used.

• Kirja julkaistaan pian ja saadaan myymälöihin huhtikuuhun mennessä. → No comma
  • Sentence: [main clause] + [incomplete main clause]
  • Shared element: kirja (object)
  • Translation: The book will be published soon and will be in stores by April.

5. A main clause and a subordinate clause – Add a comma

Main rule for sentences of the type: [main clause + (subordinate clause)]: place a comma between a main clause and a subordinate clause! A subordinate clause is a clause that can’t exist on its own without a main clause. It typically starts with a subordinate conjunction (see section 4.1), a relative pronoun (see section 4.2) or a question (see section 4.3).

5.1. Subordinate clauses can start with a subordinate conjunction – Add a comma!

In Finnish, subordinate conjunctions include the following: koska, kun, kunnes, jos, vaikka, että and jotta (as well as the contracted conjunctions jollei, vaikkei, ettei, jottei). The guidelines instruct you to place a comma to separate them from the main clause.

In English, the comma rule is different depending on which clause comes first: “I will go outside if it doesn’t rain.” vs. “If it doesn’t rain, I will go out.” In Finnish, word order will not matter: these conjunctions will need a comma regardless of which clause comes first.

5.2. Subordinate clauses can start with a relative pronoun – Add a comma!

The relative pronouns joka and mikä will require a comma in front of them. Read more about the relative pronoun joka, its inflection and the difference between joka and mikä. Important: if the relative clause is located in the middle of the main clause, you will add a comma on both sides.

5.3. Subordinate clauses can start with a question – Add a comma!

Next, we have interrogative sentences (kysymyslause). You will use a comma when the subordinate clause starts with a question word (#1) or an indirect question (#2). When these sentences are really short (e.g. Tiedän, mitä tarkoitat) the comma is possible but can also be left out.

6. More than two clauses in a sentence

We can pump up the complexity of the sentence by adding more clauses to the same sentence. This gets complicated to explain, but I like to think of the clauses as different levels of subordination. A main clause is level 1, a clause that’s subordinate to that one is level 2, and a clause that’s subordinate to that subordinate clause would be level 3.

While a sentence with three (or more) independent clauses in a chain is certainly possible, you might want to consider if you could divide them up into multiple sentences.

7. Really short sentences

It’s always dangerous in languages to claim that something “always” or “never” happens. Take for example this rule: place a comma between a main clause and its subordinate clauses. This is a good rule, but there is some leeway: you can leave out the comma with really short sentences. Note the word “can”: it’s still possible to add one anyway.

What’s a “really short” sentence then? Typically, this means clauses with only 2 or 3 words in them.

8. Commas with direct quotes

Direct quotes are not marked the same way in Finnish as in English!

9. Participle constructions – No comma!

Finnish has a way to replace an että-sentence or the conjunction kun with a shortened clause that forms a substitute construction. In Finnish, this is called a lauseenvastike, which is a topic that’s useful for upper intermediate students.

You will not use a comma with participle constructions! Think of it as a “dangling participle” in English: those aren’t followed by a comma either.

1. The temporal substitute construction (temporaalinen lauseenvastike) replaces a clause that starts with kun. It uses the verb forms tehtyä(ni) and tehdessä(ni).

• When I’ve washed all the windows, I will go to the store.
  • Kun olen pessyt kaikki ikkunat, käyn kaupassa.
    → Comma before a subordinate clause
  • Pestyäni kaikki ikkunat käyn kaupassa.
    → No comma when using a participle

• When I was walking to the store, I saw my cousin.
  • Kun olin kävelemässä kauppaan, näin serkkuni.
    → Comma after a subordinate clause
  • Kävellessäni kauppaan näin serkkuni.
    → No comma when using a participle

2. The reference construction (referatiivirakenne) replaces an että-clause with the että-participle.

• I know that Ari is following this conversation.
  • Tiedän, että Ari seuraa tätä keskustelua.
    → Comma before a subordinate clause
  • Tiedän Arin seuraavan tätä keskustelua.
    → No comma when using a participle

• I know that Ari has followed this conversation.
  • Tiedän, että Ari on seurannut tätä keskustelua.
    → Comma before a subordinate clause
  • Tiedän Arin seuranneen tätä keskustelua.
    → No comma when using a participle

This same rule also extends to connective elements that have lexicalized. The following phrases never have a comma.

10. Two main clauses without a conjunction

You will also run into sentences where two main clauses have been placed side by side without a conjunction between them. You will find examples with a comma between the two, or with a semicolon.

This will sometimes be the case when both main clauses are short and belong closely together. Both clauses usually are symmetrical, with the same sentence construction elements in both.

• Aamulla satoi vettä, iltapäivällä aurinko paistoi kirkkaasti.
  • Sentence: Main clause + main clause
  • Translation: In the morning it rained, in the afternoon the sun shone brightly.
  • The symmetry is caused by aamulla (in the morning) and iltapäivällä (in the afternoon).
  • It’s common to just add a conjunction:
    – Aamulla satoi vettä, ja iltapäivällä aurinko paistoi kirkkaasti.
    – Vaikka aamulla satoi vettä, iltapäivällä aurinko paistoi kirkkaasti.
• Lapset leikkivät hiekkalaatikossa, äidit istuivat penkillä ja keskustelivat.
  • Sentence: Main clause + main clause
  • Translation: The children were playing in the sandbox, the mothers were sitting on a bench and chatting.
  • The symmetry is caused by the sentence type in both clauses: T-plural subject + verb + place.
  • It’s common to just add a conjunction or other connective element:
    – Lapset leikkivät hiekkalaatikossa, ja äidit istuivat penkillä ja keskustelivat.
    – Samalla kun lapset leikkivät hiekkalaatikossa, äidit istuivat penkillä ja keskustelivat.

If the sentences are long or there isn’t any clear symmetry, you can also find a semicolon. However, the guidelines recommend splitting the clauses into two separate sentences.