Finnish grammar can feel like a beast—15 cases, vowel harmony, no articles—but for the YKI Finnish test at intermediate level (B1–B2), you don’t need to master it all. The key is knowing the rules that power everyday communication, from writing emails to acing the speaking section. Whether you’re prepping for citizenship (B1.1) or a job (B2), these top 10 grammar rules will carry you through the YKI intermediate test. Let’s break them down with examples to get you saying “Puhun suomea” like a pro!

1. Present Tense Conjugation

Verbs are your backbone. Drop the infinitive ending (-a, -ä, -da) and add personal endings:

  • “Puhua” (to speak) > “Minä puhun” (I speak).
  • “Mennä” (to go) > “Sinä menet” (You go).

YKI Tip: B1 tasks (e.g., “What do you do daily?”) lean on present tense. Practice 10 verbs like “olla” (to be) or “tehdä” (to do).

2. Past Tense Basics

For past events, add -i- or -si- to the stem:

  • “Ostaa” (to buy) > “Minä ostin” (I bought).
  • “Lukea” (to read) > “Hän luki” (He read).

YKI Tip: B2 speaking might ask “Mitä teit eilen?” (What did you do yesterday?). Keep it simple—e.g., “Kävin kaupassa” (I went to the shop).

3. Partitive Case for Actions

The partitive (-a, -ä, -ta) shows incomplete actions or amounts:

  • “Juon kahvia” (I’m drinking coffee) vs. “Juon kahvin” (I drink the coffee—whole cup).
  • “Luen kirjaa” (I’m reading a book—ongoing).

YKI Tip: Writing and listening tasks love this—e.g., “Ostan ruokaa” (I buy food). Learn the endings by noun type (e.g., “kirja” > “kirjaa”).

4. Vowel Harmony

Finnish words harmonize vowels—front (ä, ö, y) or back (a, o, u), never mixed:

  • “Koulu” (school) > “koulussa” (in school, back vowel -ssa).
  • “Kylä” (village) > “kylässä” (in the village, front vowel -ssä).

YKI Tip: Get this right in writing—B2 notices sloppy harmony (e.g., “koulussä” is wrong).

5. Nominative vs. Accusative

Nominative is the subject (“Koira haukkuu” = The dog barks); accusative is the object when fully affected:

  • “Syön omenan” (I eat the apple—whole thing, -n ending).

YKI Tip: B1 reading might test this—spot the doer vs. the done.

6. Possessive Suffixes

Show ownership with endings:

  • “Kirjani” (my book, -ni).
  • “Autosi” (your car, -si).

YKI Tip: Speaking tasks like “Tell me about your family” need this—e.g., “Siskoni asuu Helsingissä” (My sister lives in Helsinki).

7. Questions with -ko/-kö

Add -ko (back vowels) or -kö (front) to ask yes/no:

  • “Puhutko suomea?” (Do you speak Finnish?).
  • “Oletko kotona?” (Are you at home?).

YKI Tip: B1–B2 interviews use this—practice answering “Kyllä” (Yes) or “En” (No).

8. Word Order Flexibility

Finnish prefers Subject-Verb-Object but flexes for emphasis:

  • “Minä syön pizzaa” (I eat pizza—neutral).
  • “Pizzaa minä syön” (Pizza, I’m eating—focus on pizza).

YKI Tip: Writing at B2 might reward natural shifts—keep it simple at B1.

9. Genitive Case for Ownership

Add -n to show possession:

  • “Koiran nimi” (the dog’s name).
  • “Ystävän talo” (the friend’s house).

YKI Tip: Reading comprehension often includes this—e.g., “Whose book is it?” > “Kenen kirja?” (B2 level).

10. Basic Conditionals

For “if” scenarios at B2, use -isi-:

  • “Jos olisin rikas” (If I were rich).
  • “Menisin kotiin” (I would go home).

YKI Tip: Speaking or writing at B2 might ask opinions—e.g., “Mitä tekisit?” (What would you do?). B1 skips this, so bonus points if you nail it early.

How to Practice These Rules

  • Daily Drills: Write 5 sentences per rule—e.g., “Ostan ruokaa kaupasta” (partitive + genitive).
  • Resources: Use Suomen Mestari (B1–B2 textbook) or Uusi Kielemme (free online).
  • Test Yourself: Grab YKI samples from Oph.fi—spot these rules in action.

Pass YKI Intermediate with Confidence

These 10 rules are your grammar toolkit for the YKI Finnish test at B1–B2. They cover reading, writing, listening, and speaking—everything from “Minä puhun” to “Jos olisin.” Start small—master three rules this week—and you’ll be test-ready in months. Want more Finnish grammar hacks or YKI practice? Stick with YKIFinnish.fi—we’re your prep partner!