KPT

Students usually curl up in a fetal position and start sucking their thumbs when they see this. Actually, it doesn't take long to get used to. Remembering when KPT applies is the most difficult part. I won't explain it all here, because you need to learn all of the word-types and verb-types in order to know when KPT applies and when it doesn't. As you progress in your studies this will become clearer and easier to understand. For now I'll just explain it as simply as I can, and you can refer back to this page anytime you need to use KPT.

What is KPT?
I'm glad you asked. You've heard by now that in Finnish, instead of lots of preposition like in, at, on, to, and from, the Finns use suffixes. We add something to the end of the word to make it clear what we mean. 

For example:                       Auto                                         = car                                             
                                                  Olen autossa                        = I'm in the car                                                                                                                                                                           Menen työhön autolla      = I go to work by car                                                                                                                                                                 Tulen ulos autosta             = I'm coming out of the car                         

However, sometimes we change words when we add these suffixes, to make the word flow better and become easier to pronounce. Whenever this happens, one of the letters K, P or T is involved.

Before we add the relative suffix to a word, we need to know that word's stem or vartalo. Sometimes when we find the vartalo, we change KPT from strong to weak or vice-versa. You also need to know the word type, this comes later in this section. 

Here are some examples:    Helsinki = Helsinki              Asun Helsingissä          =   I live in Helsinki            
                                                        Matto     = Rug/mat             Kissa nukkuu matolla = The cat is asleep on the rug
                                                        Kauppa  = Shop                    Olen kaupassa                = I'm at/in the shop

By  the way! When you see red, that means it is strong (vahva) and when you see green, that means it's weak (heikko).


Here is a list of the most common changes that can occur with KPT. If you have any Finnish text books, you should have seen these already.

Vahva <> Strong

KK
PP
TT

K
P
T

RT
LT
NT
NK
MP

Heikko <> Weak

K
P
T

-
V
D

RR
LL
NN
NG
MM

Perusmuoto <> Basic form

Pankki
Kauppa
Katto

Joki
Halpa
Pöytä

Parta
Silta
Ranta
Helsinki
Kampa

Missä?

Pankissa
Kaupassa
Katossa

Joessa
Halvassa
Päydässä

Parrassa
Sillassa
Rannassa
Helsingissä
Kammassa

Oh yeah.... KPT applies to verbs also. 

The next step is the verb-types. 
Let's quickly go over how KPT is used in verbs. It's explained on the next page too but it's very important to remember. 

Verb-type 1.      Vahva --> Heikko  (minä, sinä, me and te ONLY)
                          
Verb-type 2.      KPT almost never applies.... see the verbs nähdä and tehdä on the next page.


Verb-type 3.      Heikko --> Vahva


Verb-type 4.      Heikko --> Vahva


Verb-type 5.      KPT doesn't apply.


Verb-type 6.      Heikko --> Vahva


That might seem like a lot to take in, but once you've studied the next section about verb-types carefully, come back and read this part again and it will be much clearer. Remember, you use verbs in every single sentence. It really won't take long to master this if you practice.